Process and apparatus to reduce declared capacity of a storage device by moving data

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and/or devices are used to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device in a storage system. In one aspect, the method includes, detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device, and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data used by a host from the storage device to another storage device of the storage system, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, the storage device includes one or more flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both are performed by the storage device, or by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device, or by the host.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,976, filed Sep. 2, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application is related to the following applications, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,200, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,883, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,219, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,919, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,237, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,890, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,253, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,898, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,263, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,905, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,275, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,981, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,289, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,989, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,292, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,983, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,212, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,963, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,090, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,930, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,107, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,969, filed Sep. 2, 2014;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,135, filed Feb. 12, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,932, filed Sep. 2, 2014; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/621,148, filed Feb. 12, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,158,681, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/044,936, filed Sep. 2, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to memory systems, and in particular, to reducing declared capacity of a storage device (e.g., comprising one or more flash memory devices).

BACKGROUND

Semiconductor memory devices, including flash memory, typically utilize memory cells to store data as an electrical value, such as an electrical charge or voltage. A flash memory cell, for example, includes a single transistor with a floating gate that is used to store a charge representative of a data value. Flash memory is a non-volatile data storage device that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. More generally, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory, as well as other types of non-volatile memory implemented using any of a variety of technologies) retains stored information even when not powered, as opposed to volatile memory, which requires power to maintain the stored information. Increases in storage density have been facilitated in various ways, including increasing the density of memory cells on a chip enabled by manufacturing developments, and transitioning from single-level flash memory cells to multi-level flash memory cells, so that two or more bits can be stored by each flash memory cell.

Repeated erasure and reprogramming of flash memory cells causes degradation of the charge storage capability (wear). Eventually, the charge storage capability degrades to the point where it becomes impossible or infeasible to recover the original data (e.g., an unrecoverable codeword is read from the flash memory device, the computational resources required to recover a codeword exceed a predefined threshold, or a count of program-erase (PE) cycles for the flash memory device exceeds a threshold value) and the device is considered worn out. Wear-leveling technology is often used to distribute the wear across the multiple portions of a flash memory device. In a typical system, once the wear limit of a portion of a flash memory device is reached, the entire flash memory device is considered to have failed.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of systems, methods and devices within the scope of the appended claims each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the attributes described herein. Without limiting the scope of the appended claims, after considering this disclosure, and particularly after considering the section entitled “Detailed Description” one will understand how the aspects of various embodiments are used to enable reducing declared capacity of a storage device. In one aspect, an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device in a storage system is detected, and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the present disclosure can be understood in greater detail, a more particular description may be had by reference to the features of various embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. The appended drawings, however, merely illustrate pertinent features of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting, for the description may admit to other effective features.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a data storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a data storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a data storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2A-1 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a management module, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2A-2 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a management module, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2B-1 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a system management module, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2B-2 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a system management module, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2C-1 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a cluster management module, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2C-2 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of a cluster management module, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2D is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of an amelioration module included in FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a logical address space, and more specifically a logical block address (LBA) space, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a mapping table and physical address space, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5A is a prophetic diagram of voltage distributions that may be found in a single-level flash memory cell (SLC) over time, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a prophetic diagram of voltage distributions that may be found in a multi-level flash memory cell (MLC) over time, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart representation of a method of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate a flowchart representation of a method of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a flowchart representation of a method of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate a flowchart representation of a method of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments.

In accordance with common practice the various features illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Accordingly, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given system, method or device. Finally, like reference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout the specification and figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When a multi-level flash cell has reached its wear limit it typically still has charge retention capability sufficient to store a reduced number of charge levels. Often it is the case that a substantial number of erasure and reprogramming cycles can be performed on a wear-limited multi-level flash cell with full recovery of the stored data, provided that a reduced number of charge levels is used and expected. For example, a flash memory device operating in 3 bits per cell mode (TLC) typically can perform between 500 and 1500 erasure and reprogramming cycles before being considered worn out. However, at that point in time it will typically still have sufficient charge storage capability to operate in the single bit per cell mode (SLC) for an additional 10,000 to 20,000 erasure and reprogramming cycles before the SLC wear limit is encountered. Thus the lifetime of the flash memory device may be extended provided that it can be allowed to store less data. Currently it is difficult for a storage system to utilize this extended capability because storage system mechanisms for managing and working with a storage device whose capacity decreases with usage, by decreasing over-provisioning, are inadequate. Consequently what is desired are mechanisms for managing and working with such a storage device, including mechanisms to inform the surrounding system of its impending (or imminent) reduction in capacity so that the system may adjust its operation accordingly. Potentially, memory devices with other forms of non-volatile memory may benefit from the same or similar mechanisms as those described in this document.

The various embodiments described herein include systems, methods and/or devices used to reduce declared capacity of a storage device in accordance with a detected amelioration trigger. Some embodiments include systems, methods and/or devices to detect a trigger condition in accordance with one or more metrics of a storage device and enable an amelioration process associated with the detected trigger condition, the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I1) More specifically, some embodiments include a method of managing a storage system. In some embodiments, the method includes: (1) detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device of the storage system, and (2) in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including altering an encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I1-1) In some embodiments of the method of I1, the method further includes: (1) prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning, and (2) in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I1-2) In some embodiments of the method of I1-1, detecting the amelioration trigger includes detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.

(I2) In some embodiments of the method of I1 or I1-1 or I1-2, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by the storage device

(I3) In some embodiments of the method of I1 or I1-1 or I1-2, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device.

(I4) In some embodiments of the method of I1 or I1-1 or I1-2, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by the host.

(I5) In some embodiments of the method of I4, the host includes a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.

(I6) In some embodiments of the method of I4, the host includes a storage system controller of the storage system.

(I7) In some embodiments of the method of I4, the host includes a cluster controller of the storage system.

(I8) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I7, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process.

(I9) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I8, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format from a higher-density physical encoding format to a lower-density physical encoding format.

(I10) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I9, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering a number of states per memory cell from a higher number of states to a lower number of states.

(I11) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I10, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format from a Triple-Level Cell (TLC) format to a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) format.

(I12) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I11, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format from a Triple-Level Cell (TLC) format to a Single-Level Cell (SLC) format.

(I13) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I12, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format from a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) format to a Single-Level Cell (SLC) format.

(I14) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I13, performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes reducing utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I15) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I14, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format of a memory portion of a plurality of memory portions of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I16) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I15, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering the encoding format of all client data of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I17) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I16, performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device further includes advertising a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I18) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I17, the method further comprises (1) after beginning performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, detecting an indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and (2) in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, aborting performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(I19) In some embodiments of the method of any of I1 to I18, the storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.

(I20) In another aspect, a storage device includes (1) non-volatile memory, (2) one or more processors, and (3) controller memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the storage device to perform or control performance of any of the methods I1-I19 described herein.

(I22) In yet another aspect, any of the methods I1-I19 described above are performed by a storage device including means for performing any of the methods described herein.

(I24) In yet another aspect, a storage system includes (1) a storage medium (e.g., comprising one or more non-volatile storage devices, such as flash memory devices) (2) one or more processors, and (3) memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the storage system to perform or control performance of any of the methods I1-I19 described herein.

(I25) In yet another aspect, some embodiments include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a host system, the one or more programs including instructions for performing any of the methods I1-I19 described herein.

(I26) In yet another aspect, a storage system includes (1) one or more storage devices, (2) one or more subsystems having one or more processors, and (3) memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more subsystems to perform or control performance of any of the methods I1-I19 described herein.

(I28) In yet another aspect, a host system includes (1) an interface for operatively coupling to a storage system, (2) one or more processors, and (3) controller memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the host system to perform or control performance of any of the methods I1-I19 described herein.

(K1) More specifically, some embodiments include a method of managing a storage system. In some embodiments, the method includes: (1) detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device of the storage system, and (2) in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including deleting from the storage device discardable data that is used by a host, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(K1-1) In some embodiments of the method of K1, the method further includes: (1) prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning, and (2) in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(K1-2) In some embodiments of the method of K1-1, detecting the amelioration trigger includes detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.

(K2) In some embodiments of the method of K1 or K1-1 or K1-2, the host includes a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.

(K3) In some embodiments of the method of K1 or K1-1 or K1-2, the host includes a storage system controller of the storage system.

(K4) In some embodiments of the method of K1 or K1-1 or K1-2, the host includes a cluster controller of the storage system.

(K5) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K4, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by the storage device

(K6) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K4, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device.

(K7) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K4, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by the host.

(K8) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K7, deleting discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting discardable data that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process.

(K9) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K8, deleting discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting temporary data.

(K10) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K9, deleting discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting data that can be rebuilt when needed.

(K11) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K10, deleting discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting snapshots of data.

(K12) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K11, deleting discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting data that is pre-marked by the host as data that is discardable.

(K13) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K12, deleting discardable data that is used by the host includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the discardable data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the storage device.

(K14) In some embodiments of the method of any of K13, reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes making a number of logical addresses, less than or equal to a number of logical addresses corresponding to the invalidated logical address entries, unavailable to the host.

(K15) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K14, performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device further includes advertising a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(K16) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K15, the method further comprises (1) after beginning performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, detecting an indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and (2) in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, aborting performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

(K17) In some embodiments of the method of any of K1 to K16, the storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.

(K18) In another aspect, a storage device includes (1) non-volatile memory, (2) one or more processors, and (3) controller memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the storage device to perform or control performance of any of the methods K1-K17 described herein.

(K20) In yet another aspect, any of the methods K1-K17 described above are performed by a storage device including means for performing any of the methods described herein.

(K22) In yet another aspect, a storage system includes (1) a storage medium (e.g., comprising one or more non-volatile storage devices, such as flash memory devices) (2) one or more processors, and (3) memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the storage system to perform or control performance of any of the methods K1-K17 described herein.

(K23) In yet another aspect, some embodiments include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a storage device, the one or more programs including instructions for performing any of the methods K1-K17 described herein.

(K24) In yet another aspect, a storage system includes (1) one or more storage devices, (2) one or more subsystems having one or more processors, and (3) memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more subsystems to perform or control performance of any of the methods K1-K17 described herein.

(K26) In yet another aspect, a host system includes (1) an interface for operatively coupling to a storage system, (2) one or more processors, and (3) controller memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the host system to perform or control performance of any of the methods K1-K17 described herein.

In yet another aspect, some embodiments include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a host system, the one or more programs including instructions for performing any of the methods described herein.

(L1) More specifically, some embodiments include a method of managing a storage system. In some embodiments, the method includes: (1) detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of the storage system, and (2) in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including moving a portion of data that is used by a host from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

(L1-1) In some embodiments of the method of L1, the method further includes: (1) prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning, and (2) in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

(L1-2) In some embodiments of the method of L1-1, detecting the amelioration trigger includes detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.

(L2) In some embodiments of the method of L1 or L1-1 or L1-2, the host includes a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.

(L3) In some embodiments of the method of L1 or L1-1 or L1-2, the host includes a storage system controller of the storage system.

(L4) In some embodiments of the method of L1 or L1-1 or L1-2, the host includes a cluster controller of the storage system.

(L5) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L4, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by the host.

(L6) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L4, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the first storage device.

(L7) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L6, moving the portion of data that is used by the host includes moving the portion of data that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process.

(L8) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L7, moving the portion of data that is used by the host includes moving data associated with one or more virtual logical addresses, including updating a virtual address mapping module.

(L9) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L8, moving the portion of the data includes selecting one or more logical addresses of that data so as to minimize performance degradation.

(L10) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L8, moving the portion of the data includes selecting one or more logical addresses of that data so as to minimize overhead from garbage collection.

(L11) In some embodiments of the method of any of L8 to L10, performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in the logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device.

(L12) In some embodiments of the method of L11, reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming logical addresses associated with the portion of data moved from the first storage device.

(L13) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L12, performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes advertising a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

(L14) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L13, the method further comprises: (1) after beginning performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, detecting an indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; and (2) in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, aborting performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

(L15) In some embodiments of the method of any of L1 to L14, the first storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.

(L16) In another aspect, a host system includes: (1) an interface for operatively coupling to a storage system, (2) one or more processors, and (3) controller memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the first storage device to perform or control performance of any of the methods L1-L15 described herein.

(L18) In yet another aspect, any of the methods L1-L15 described above are performed by a system including means for performing any of the methods described herein.

(L20) In yet another aspect, a storage system includes (1) a storage medium (e.g., comprising one or more non-volatile storage devices, such as flash memory devices) (2) one or more processors, and (3) memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the storage system to perform or control performance of any of the methods L1-L15 described herein.

(L21) In yet another aspect, some embodiments include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a storage device, the one or more programs including instructions for performing any of the methods L1-L15 described herein.

(L22) In yet another aspect, a storage system includes (1) one or more storage devices, (2) one or more subsystems having one or more processors, and (3) memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more subsystems to perform or control performance of any of the methods L1-L15 described herein.

Numerous details are described herein in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, some embodiments may be practiced without many of the specific details, and the scope of the claims is only limited by those features and aspects specifically recited in the claims. Furthermore, well-known methods, components, and circuits have not been described in exhaustive detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure pertinent aspects of the embodiments described herein.

Data storage systems, including those described below, use a variety of techniques to avoid data loss caused by a variety of failure mechanisms, including storage media failure, communication failures, and failures at the system and subsystem level. A common feature of these mechanisms is the use of data redundancy to protect data, to compensate for actual and potential data errors (e.g., media errors, lost data, transmission errors, inaccessible data, etc.). One class of redundancy mechanisms is known as error correction codes (ECCs). Numerous types of error correction codes are well known (e.g., BCH, LDPC, Reed-Solomon, etc.), as are numerous schemes for storing them with or in conjunction with the data that is being protected. Another class of redundancy mechanisms is erasure codes (e.g., pyramid, fountain, partial MDS, locally repairable, simple regenerating, etc.)

Another type or level of redundancy mechanism is typically called RAID (redundant array of independent disks), even when the storage media are not “disks” in the traditional sense. There are multiple forms of RAID, or RAID schemes, providing different levels of data protection (e.g., RAID-1, RAID-5, RAID-6, RAID-10, etc.). Typically, in systems that use RAID, “stripes” of data stored in multiple distinct storage locations are treated as a set, and stored with sufficient redundant data that any data in a stripe that would have been lost, in a partial or complete failure of any one of the storage locations, is recovered using the other data in the stripe, possibly including the redundant data.

A third type of redundancy mechanism is replication of data to multiple storage locations, typically in distinct failure domains. Systems implementing this type of redundancy mechanism typically store three or more replicas of each data set or data item. Typically either each replica is in a distinct failure domain from the other replicas, or at least one replica is in a distinct failure domain from the other replicas.

The embodiments described below work in conjunction with the data redundancy mechanisms described above (used alone or in combination). Some of the data storage systems described below have an architecture or configuration designed to implement a particular redundancy mechanism. Furthermore, some of the embodiments described below may utilize more than one of the redundancy mechanisms described above, either alone or in combination. Furthermore, some of the embodiments are able to store data encoded with different redundancy mechanisms simultaneously. Furthermore, even within a single mechanism, the selection of parameters (i.e., codeword size relative to data size) may vary dynamically. Hence, altering the redundancy mechanism directly affects the amount of data stored and in turn the utilization.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating data storage system 100, in accordance with some embodiments. While some example features are illustrated, various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure pertinent aspects of the example embodiments disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, data storage system 100 includes a storage device 120, which includes a storage controller 124 and a storage medium 130, and is used in conjunction with or includes a computer system 110. In some embodiments, storage medium 130 is a single flash memory device while in other embodiments storage medium 130 includes a plurality of flash memory devices. In some embodiments, storage medium 130 is NAND-type flash memory or NOR-type flash memory. In some embodiments, storage medium 130 includes one or more three-dimensional (3D) memory devices, as further defined herein. Further, in some embodiments storage controller 124 is a solid-state drive (SSD) controller. However, other types of storage media may be included in accordance with aspects of a wide variety of embodiments (e.g., PCRAM, ReRAM, STT-RAM, etc.). In some embodiments, a flash memory device includes one or more flash memory die, one or more flash memory packages, one or more flash memory channels or the like. In some embodiments, data storage system 100 can contain one or more storage device 120 s.

Computer system 110 is coupled to storage controller 124 through data connections 101. However, in some embodiments computer system 110 includes storage controller 124, or a portion of storage controller 124, as a component and/or a subsystem. For example, in some embodiments, some or all of the functionality of storage controller 124 is implemented by software executed on computer system 110. Computer system 110 may be any suitable computer device, such as a computer, a laptop computer, a tablet device, a netbook, an internet kiosk, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a gaming device, a computer server, or any other computing device. Computer system 110 is sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system. In some embodiments, computer system 110 is a server system, such as a server system in a data center. In some embodiments, computer system 110 includes one or more processors, one or more types of memory, a display and/or other user interface components such as a keyboard, a touch screen display, a mouse, a track-pad, a digital camera and/or any number of supplemental devices to add functionality. In some embodiments, computer system 110 does not have a display and other user interface components.

Storage medium 130 is coupled to storage controller 124 through connections 103. Connections 103 are sometimes called data connections, but typically convey commands in addition to data, and optionally convey metadata, error correction information and/or other information in addition to data values to be stored in storage medium 130 and data values read from storage medium 130. In some embodiments, however, storage controller 124 and storage medium 130 are included in the same device (i.e., an integral device) as components thereof. Furthermore, in some embodiments, storage controller 124 and storage medium 130 are embedded in a host device (e.g., computer system 110), such as a mobile device, tablet, other computer or computer controlled device, and the methods described herein are performed, at least in part, by the embedded memory controller. Storage medium 130 may include any number (i.e., one or more) of memory devices including, without limitation, non-volatile semiconductor memory devices, such as flash memory device(s). For example, flash memory device(s) can be configured for enterprise storage suitable for applications such as cloud computing, for database applications, primary and/or secondary storage, or for caching data stored (or to be stored) in secondary storage, such as hard disk drives. Additionally and/or alternatively, flash memory device(s) can also be configured for relatively smaller-scale applications such as personal flash drives or hard-disk replacements for personal, laptop, and tablet computers. In some embodiments, storage medium 130 includes one or more three-dimensional (3D) memory devices, as further defined herein.

Storage medium 130 is divided into a number of addressable and individually selectable blocks, such as selectable portion 131. In some embodiments, the individually selectable blocks are the minimum size erasable units in a flash memory device. In other words, each block contains the minimum number of memory cells that can be erased simultaneously. Each block is usually further divided into a plurality of pages and/or word lines, where each page or word line is typically an instance of the smallest individually accessible (readable) portion in a block. In some embodiments (e.g., using some types of flash memory), the smallest individually accessible unit of a data set, however, is a sector, which is a subunit of a page. That is, a block includes a plurality of pages, each page contains a plurality of sectors, and each sector is the minimum unit of data for reading data from the flash memory device.

As noted above, while data storage densities of non-volatile semiconductor memory devices are generally increasing, a drawback of increasing storage density is that the stored data is more prone to being stored and/or read erroneously. In some embodiments, error control coding can be utilized to limit the number of uncorrectable errors that are introduced by electrical fluctuations, defects in the storage medium, operating conditions, device history, write-read circuitry, etc., or a combination of these and various other factors.

In some embodiments, storage controller 124 includes a management module 121-1, a host interface 129, a storage medium I/O interface 128, and additional module(s) 125. Storage controller 124 may include various additional features that have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure pertinent features of the example embodiments disclosed herein, and a different arrangement of features may be possible. Host interface 129 provides an interface to computer system 110 through data connections 101. Similarly, storage medium I/O 128 provides an interface to storage medium 130 though connections 103. In some embodiments, storage medium I/O 128 includes read and write circuitry, including circuitry capable of providing reading signals to storage medium 130 (e.g., reading threshold voltages for NAND-type flash memory).

In some embodiments, management module 121-1 includes one or more processing units (CPUs, also sometimes called processors) 122-1 configured to execute instructions in one or more programs (e.g., in management module 121-1). In some embodiments, the one or more CPUs 122-1 are shared by one or more components within, and in some cases, beyond the function of storage controller 124. Management module 121-1 is coupled to host interface 129, additional module(s) 125 and storage medium I/O 128 in order to coordinate the operation of these components. In some embodiments, one or more modules of management module 121-1 are implemented in management module 121-2 of computer system 110. In some embodiments, one or more processors of computer system 110 (not shown) are configured to execute instructions in one or more programs (e.g., in management module 121-2). Management module 121-2 is coupled to storage device 120 in order to manage the operation of storage device 120.

Additional module(s) 125 are coupled to storage medium I/O 128, host interface 129, and management module 121-1. As an example, additional module(s) 125 may include an error control module to limit the number of uncorrectable errors inadvertently introduced into data during writes to memory or reads from memory. In some embodiments, additional module(s) 125 are executed in software by the one or more CPUs 122-1 of management module 121-1, and, in other embodiments, additional module(s) 125 are implemented in whole or in part using special purpose circuitry (e.g., to perform encoding and decoding functions). In some embodiments, additional module(s) 125 are implemented in whole or in part by software executed on computer system 110.

In some embodiments, an error control module, included in additional module(s) 125, includes an encoder and a decoder. In some embodiments, the encoder encodes data by applying an error control code to produce a codeword, which is subsequently stored in storage medium 130. When the encoded data (e.g., one or more codewords) is read from storage medium 130, the decoder applies a decoding process to the encoded data to recover the data, and to correct errors in the recovered data within the error correcting capability of the error control code. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various error control codes have different error detection and correction capacities, and that particular codes are selected for various applications for reasons beyond the scope of this disclosure. As such, an exhaustive review of the various types of error control codes is not provided herein. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that each type or family of error control codes may have encoding and decoding algorithms that are particular to the type or family of error control codes. On the other hand, some algorithms may be utilized at least to some extent in the decoding of a number of different types or families of error control codes. As such, for the sake of brevity, an exhaustive description of the various types of encoding and decoding algorithms generally available and known to those skilled in the art is not provided herein.

In some embodiments, during a write operation, host interface 129 receives data to be stored in storage medium 130 from computer system 110. The data received by host interface 129 is made available to an encoder (e.g., in additional module(s) 125), which encodes the data to produce one or more codewords. The one or more codewords are made available to storage medium I/O 128, which transfers the one or more codewords to storage medium 130 in a manner dependent on the type of storage medium being utilized.

In some embodiments, a read operation is initiated when computer system (host) 110 sends one or more host read commands (e.g., via data connections 101, or alternatively a separate control line or bus) to storage controller 124 requesting data from storage medium 130. Storage controller 124 sends one or more read access commands to storage medium 130, via storage medium I/O 128, to obtain raw read data in accordance with memory locations (addresses) specified by the one or more host read commands. Storage medium I/O 128 provides the raw read data (e.g., comprising one or more codewords) to a decoder (e.g., in additional module(s) 125). If the decoding is successful, the decoded data is provided to host interface 129, where the decoded data is made available to computer system 110. In some embodiments, if the decoding is not successful, storage controller 124 may resort to a number of remedial actions or provide an indication of an irresolvable error condition.

As explained above, a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130) is divided into a number of addressable and individually selectable blocks and each block is optionally (but typically) further divided into a plurality of pages and/or word lines and/or sectors. While erasure of a storage medium is performed on a block basis, in many embodiments, reading and programming of the storage medium is performed on a smaller subunit of a block (e.g., on a page basis, word line basis, or sector basis). In some embodiments, the smaller subunit of a block consists of multiple memory cells (e.g., single-level cells or multi-level cells). In some embodiments, programming is performed on an entire page. In some embodiments, a multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash typically has four possible states per cell, yielding two bits of information per cell. Further, in some embodiments, a MLC NAND has two page types: (1) a lower page (sometimes called fast page), and (2) an upper page (sometimes called slow page). In some embodiments, a triple-level cell (TLC) NAND flash has eight possible states per cell, yielding three bits of information per cell. Although the description herein uses TLC, MLC, and SLC as examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described herein may be extended to memory cells that have more than eight possible states per cell, yielding more than three bits of information per cell.

The encoding format of the storage media (i.e., TLC, MLC, or SLC and/or a chose data redundancy mechanism) is a choice made when data is actually written to the storage media. Often in this specification there is described an event, condition, or process that is said to set the encoding format, alter the encoding format of the storage media, etc. It should be recognized that the actual process may involve multiple steps, e.g., erasure of the previous contents of the storage media followed by the data being written using the new encoding format and that these operations may be separated in time from the initiating event, condition or procedure.

As an example, if data is written to a storage medium in pages, but the storage medium is erased in blocks, pages in the storage medium may contain invalid (e.g., stale) data, but those pages cannot be overwritten until the whole block containing those pages is erased. In order to write to the pages with invalid data, the pages (if any) with valid data in that block are read and re-written to a new block and the old block is erased (or put on a queue for erasing). This process is called garbage collection. After garbage collection, the new block contains the pages with valid data and may have free pages that are available for new data to be written, and the old block can be erased so as to be available for new data to be written. Since flash memory can only be programmed and erased a limited number of times, the efficiency of the algorithm used to pick the next block(s) to re-write and erase has a significant impact on the lifetime and reliability of flash-based storage systems.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating data storage system 140, in accordance with some embodiments. While some example features are illustrated, various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure pertinent aspects of the example embodiments disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, data storage system 140 (sometimes called a scale-up storage system, a single node storage system, etc.) includes a plurality of storage devices 160 (e.g., storage devices 160-1 to 160-m) and a storage system controller 150, and is used in conjunction with a computer system 142. In some embodiments, storage devices 160 include management modules 161 (e.g., storage device 160-1 includes management module 161-1 and storage device 160-m includes management module 161-m). Some of the features described above with respect to storage device 120 (FIG. 1A) and management module 121-1 (FIG. 1A) are applicable to storage devices 160 and management modules 161, respectively, and for sake of brevity and simplicity, the details are not repeated here.

Computer system 142 is coupled to storage system controller 150 through connections 141. However, in some embodiments computer system 142 includes a part of or the entire storage system controller 150 as a component and/or a subsystem. For example, in some embodiments, some or all of the functionality of storage system controller 150 is implemented by software executed on computer system 142. Computer system 142 may be any suitable computer device, such as a computer, a laptop computer, a tablet device, a netbook, an internet kiosk, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a gaming device, a computer server, or any other computing device. In some embodiments, computer system 142 is a server system, such as a server system in a data center. Computer system 142 is sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system. In some embodiments, computer system 142 includes one or more processors, one or more types of memory, a display and/or other user interface components such as a keyboard, a touch screen display, a mouse, a track-pad, a digital camera and/or any number of supplemental devices to add functionality. In some embodiments, computer system 142 does not have a display and other user interface components.

In some embodiments, storage system controller 150 includes a system management module 151-1, and additional module(s) 155. Storage system controller 150 may include various additional features that have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure pertinent features of the example embodiments disclosed herein, and a different arrangement of features may be possible. For example, in some embodiments, storage system controller 150 additionally includes an interface for each of the storage devices 160 coupled to storage system controller 150. Storage devices 160 are coupled to storage system controller 150 through connections 143 (e.g., storage device 160-1 is coupled to storage system controller 150 through connections 143-1 and storage device 160-m is coupled to storage system controller 150 through connections 143-m). In some embodiments, connections 143-1 through 143-m are implemented as a communication media over which commands and data are communicated using a protocol such as SCSI, SATA, Infiniband, Ethernet, Token Ring, or the like.

In some embodiments, system management module 151-1 includes one or more processing units (CPUs, also sometimes called processors) 152-1 configured to execute instructions in one or more programs (e.g., in system management module 151-1). In some embodiments, the one or more CPUs 152-1 are shared by one or more components within, and in some cases, beyond the function of storage system controller 150. System management module 151-1 is coupled to additional module(s) 155 in order to coordinate the operation of these components. In some embodiments, one or more modules of system management module 151-1 are implemented in system management module 151-2 of computer system 142 (sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system). In some embodiments, one or more processors (sometimes called CPUs or processing units) of computer system 142 (not shown) are configured to execute instructions in one or more programs (e.g., in system management module 151-2). System management module 151-2 is coupled to storage system controller 150 in order to manage the operation of storage system controller 150.

Additional module(s) 155 are coupled to system management module 151-1. In some embodiments, additional module(s) 155 are executed in software by the one or more CPUs 152-1 of system management module 151-1, and, in other embodiments, additional module(s) 155 are implemented in whole or in part using special purpose circuitry. In some embodiments, additional module(s) 155 are implemented in whole or in part by software executed on computer system 142.

During a write operation, storage system controller 150 receives data to be stored in storage devices 160 from computer system 142 (sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system). In some embodiments, storage system controller 150 maps a virtual logical address from computer system 142 to an address, which determines or identifies the one or more of storage devices 160 to which to write the data.

A read operation is initiated when computer system 142 sends one or more host read commands to storage system controller 150 requesting data from storage devices 160. In some embodiments, storage system controller 150 maps a virtual logical address from computer system 142 to an address, which determines or identifies the one or more of storage devices 160 from which to read the requested data.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of data storage system 170, in accordance with some embodiments. While some example features are illustrated, various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure pertinent aspects of the example embodiments disclosed herein. To that end, as a non-limiting example, data storage system 170 (sometimes called a scale-out storage system, a multiple node storage system or a storage cluster system) includes a plurality of storage subsystems 192 (e.g., storage subsystems 192-1 to 192-s) and a cluster controller 180, and is used in conjunction with a computer system 172. In some embodiments, storage subsystems 192 include storage system controllers 190 and storage devices 194 (e.g., storage subsystem 192-1 includes storage system controller 190-1 and storage devices 194-1 through 194-n). Some of the features described above with respect to data storage system 140 (FIG. 1B) are applicable to storage subsystems 192, and for sake of brevity, the details are not repeated here. In some embodiments there may be a plurality of cluster controllers 180 that may communicate with each other to coordinate their activities.

Computer system 172 is coupled to cluster controller 180 through connections 171. However, in some embodiments computer system 172 includes cluster controller 180 as a component and/or a subsystem. For example, in some embodiments, some or all of the functionality of cluster controller 180 is implemented by software executed on computer system 172. Computer system 172 may be any suitable computer device, such as a computer, a laptop computer, a tablet device, a netbook, an internet kiosk, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a gaming device, a computer server, or any other computing device. In some embodiments, computer system 172 is a server system, such as a server system in a data center. Computer system 172 is sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system. In some embodiments, computer system 172 includes one or more processors, one or more types of memory, a display and/or other user interface components such as a keyboard, a touch screen display, a mouse, a track-pad, a digital camera and/or any number of supplemental devices to add functionality. In some embodiments, computer system 172 does not have a display and other user interface components.

In some embodiments, cluster controller 180 includes a cluster management module 181-1, and additional module(s) 185. Cluster controller 180 may include various additional features that have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure pertinent features of the example embodiments disclosed herein, and a different arrangement of features may be possible. For example, in some embodiments, cluster controller 180 additionally includes an interface for each of the storage subsystems 192 coupled to cluster controller 180. Storage subsystems 192 are coupled to cluster controller 180 through connections 173 (e.g., storage subsystem 192-1 is coupled to cluster controller 180 through connections 173-1 and storage subsystem 192-s is coupled to cluster controller 180 through connections 173-s). In some embodiments, connections 173 may be implemented as a shared communication network, e.g., Token Ring, Ethernet, Infiniband, etc.

In some embodiments, cluster management module 181-1 includes one or more processing units (CPUs, also sometimes called processors) 182-1 configured to execute instructions in one or more programs (e.g., in cluster management module 181-1). In some embodiments, the one or more CPUs 182-1 are shared by one or more components within, and in some cases, beyond the function of cluster controller 180. Cluster management module 181-1 is coupled to additional module(s) 185 in order to coordinate the operation of these components. In some embodiments, one or more modules of cluster management module 181-1 are implemented in cluster management module 181-2 of computer system 172 (sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system). In some embodiments, one or more processors (sometimes called CPUs or processing units) of computer system 172 (not shown) are configured to execute instructions in one or more programs (e.g., in cluster management module 181-2). Cluster management module 181-2 is coupled to cluster controller 180 in order to manage the operation of cluster controller 180.

Additional module(s) 185 are coupled to cluster management module 181-1. In some embodiments, additional module(s) 185 are executed in software by the one or more CPUs 182-1 of cluster management module 181-1, and, in other embodiments, additional module(s) 185 are implemented in whole or in part using special purpose circuitry. In some embodiments, additional module(s) 185 are implemented in whole or in part by software executed on computer system 172.

In some embodiments, during a write operation, cluster controller 180 receives data to be stored in storage subsystems 192 from computer system 172 (sometimes called a host, host system, client, or client system). In some embodiments, cluster controller 180 maps a virtual logical address from computer system 172 to an address format understandable by storage subsystems 192 and to identify a storage subsystem of storage subsystems 192 to which to write the data. In some embodiments, cluster controller 180 may convert the data to be stored into a plurality of sets of data, each set of data is stored on one storage subsystem of storage subsystems 192. In one embodiment, the conversion process may be as simple as a partitioning of the data to be stored. In another embodiment, the conversion process may redundantly encode the data to be stored so as to provide enhanced data integrity and access in the face of failures of one or more storage subsystems of storage subsystems 192 or communication thereto.

In some embodiments, a read operation is initiated when computer system 172 sends one or more host read commands to cluster controller 180 requesting data from storage subsystems 192. In some embodiments, cluster controller 180 maps a virtual logical address from computer system 172 to an address format understandable by storage subsystems 192, to determine or identify the storage subsystem of storage subsystems 192 from which to read the requested data. In some embodiments, more than one storage subsystem of storage subsystems 192 may have data read in order to satisfy the read operation, e.g. for data reconstruction.

As used herein, the term “host” or “host system” may be construed to mean (1) a computer system (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A, computer system 142, FIG. 1B, or computer system 172, FIG. 1C) on behalf of which data is stored in a storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A, data storage system 140, FIG. 1B, or data storage system 170, FIG. 1C), (2) a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of a storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B), (3) a cluster controller (e.g., cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C) of a storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C), and/or (4) any computing entity (e.g., a computer, a process running on a computer, a mobile phone, an internet kiosk, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a server computer, etc.) that is operatively coupled either directly or indirectly to a storage system, depending on the context. For example, in some circumstances, with respect to data storage system 140 (FIG. 1B), the term “host” may refer to computer system 142 or storage system controller 150, depending on the context. As another example, in some circumstances, with respect to data storage system 170 (FIG. 1C), the term “host” may refer to computer system 172 or cluster controller 180, depending on the context. Further, in some contexts, the host is or includes a client or client system, on behalf of which data is stored in a storage system.

FIG. 2A-1 is a block diagram illustrating a management module 121-1, in accordance with some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1A. Management module 121-1 typically includes one or more processing units (sometimes called CPUs or processors) 122-1 for executing modules, programs and/or instructions stored in memory 206-1 and thereby performing processing operations, memory 206-1 (sometimes called controller memory), and one or more communication buses 208-1 for interconnecting these components. The one or more communication buses 208-1 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Management module 121-1 is coupled to host interface 129, additional module(s) 125, and storage medium I/O 128 by the one or more communication buses 208-1. Memory 206-1 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 206-1 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s) 122-1. Memory 206-1, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 206-1, comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 206-1, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 206-1 stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   translation table 212-1 that is used for mapping logical         addresses to physical addresses (e.g., in some embodiments,         translation table 212-1 includes mapping table 402, FIG. 4);     -   data read module 214-1 that is used for reading data from one or         more codewords, pages or blocks in a storage medium (e.g.,         storage medium 130, FIG. 1A);     -   data write module 216-1 that is used for writing data to one or         more codewords, pages or blocks in a storage medium (e.g.,         storage medium 130, FIG. 1A);     -   data erase module 218-1 that is used for erasing data from one         or more blocks in a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130,         FIG. 1A);     -   garbage collection module 220-1 that is used for garbage         collection for one or more blocks in a storage medium (e.g.,         storage medium 130, FIG. 1A);     -   metrics module 222-1 that is used for generating and/or         obtaining one or more metrics of a storage device (e.g., storage         device 120, FIG. 1A);     -   trigger detection module 224-1 that is used for detecting a         trigger condition (e.g., in accordance with one or more metrics         of a storage device);     -   enabling module 226-1 that is used for enabling an amelioration         process associated with a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 224-1);     -   notification module 228-1 that is used for notifying a host to         which a storage device is operatively coupled of a trigger         condition (e.g., detected by trigger detection module 224-1)         and/or of an absence of the trigger condition;     -   amelioration module 230-1 that is used for performing an         amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile         memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A),         optionally including:         -   detection module 231-1 that is used for detecting an             amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of the             non-volatile memory of the storage device;         -   utilization module 232-1 that is used for reducing             utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage             device; and         -   capacity module 234-1 that is used for reducing declared             capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 206-1 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 206-1 may store additional modules and data structures not described above. In some embodiments, the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 206-1, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 206-1, provide instructions for implementing some of the methods described below. In some embodiments, some or all of these modules may be implemented with specialized hardware circuits that subsume part or all of the module functionality.

Although FIG. 2A-1 shows management module 121-1 in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 2A-1 is intended more as a functional description of the various features which may be present in management module 121-1 than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the programs, modules, and data structures shown separately could be combined and some programs, modules, and data structures could be separated.

FIG. 2A-2 is a block diagram illustrating a management module 121-2 of computer system 110 (FIG. 1A), in accordance with some embodiments. Management module 121-2 typically includes one or more processing units (sometimes called CPUs or processors) 122-2 for executing modules, programs and/or instructions stored in memory 206-2 and thereby performing processing operations, memory 206-2, and one or more communication buses 208-2 for interconnecting these components. The one or more communication buses 208-2 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Management module 121-2 is coupled to storage device 120 by the one or more communication buses 208-2. Memory 206-2 (sometimes called host memory) includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 206-2 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s) 122-2. Memory 206-2, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 206-2, comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 206-2, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 206-2 stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   translation table 212-2 that is used for mapping logical         addresses to physical addresses (e.g., in some embodiments,         translation table 212-2 includes mapping table 402, FIG. 4);     -   data read module 214-2 that is used for reading data from one or         more codewords, pages or blocks in a storage medium (e.g.,         storage medium 130, FIG. 1A);     -   data write module 216-2 that is used for writing data to one or         more codewords, pages or blocks in a storage medium (e.g.,         storage medium 130, FIG. 1A);     -   data erase module 218-2 that is used for erasing data from one         or more blocks in a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130,         FIG. 1A);     -   garbage collection module 220-2 that is used for garbage         collection for one or more blocks in a storage medium (e.g.,         storage medium 130, FIG. 1A);     -   metrics module 222-2 that is used for generating and/or         obtaining one or more metrics of a storage device (e.g., storage         device 120, FIG. 1A);     -   trigger detection module 224-2 that is used for detecting a         trigger condition (e.g., in accordance with one or more metrics         of a storage device);     -   enabling module 226-2 that is used for enabling an amelioration         process associated with a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 224-2);     -   notification module 228-2 that is used for notifying an         application, module or process, of the host (i.e., computer         system 110, FIG. 1A), of a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 224-2) and/or of an absence of the         trigger condition;     -   amelioration module 230-2 that is used for performing an         amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile         memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A),         optionally including:         -   detection module 231-2 that is used for detecting an             amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of the             non-volatile memory of the storage device;         -   utilization module 232-2 that is used for reducing             utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage             device; and         -   capacity module 234-2 that is used for reducing declared             capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 206-2 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 206-2 may store additional modules and data structures not described above. In some embodiments, the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 206-2, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 206-2, provide instructions for implementing some of the methods described below. In some embodiments, some or all of these modules may be implemented with specialized hardware circuits that subsume part or all of the module functionality.

Although FIG. 2A-2 shows management module 121-2 in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 2A-2 is intended more as a functional description of the various features which may be present in management module 121-2 than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the programs, modules, and data structures shown separately could be combined and some programs, modules, and data structures could be separated.

FIG. 2B-1 is a block diagram illustrating a system management module 151-1, in accordance with some embodiments, e.g., embodiments in which the system management module is in a storage system controller, as shown in FIG. 1B. System management module 151-1 typically includes one or more processing units (sometimes called CPUs or processors) 152-1 for executing modules, programs and/or instructions stored in memory 246-1 and thereby performing processing operations, memory 246-1 (sometimes called storage system controller memory or controller memory), and one or more communication buses 248-1 for interconnecting these components. The one or more communication buses 248-1 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. System management module 151-1 is coupled to additional module(s) 155 by the one or more communication buses 248-1. Memory 246-1 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 246-1 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s) 152-1. Memory 246-1, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 246-1, comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 246-1, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 246-1 stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   system mapping module 250-1 that is used for mapping virtual         logical addresses (e.g., used by computer system 142, FIG. 1B)         to intermediate addresses (e.g., which are mapped by storage         devices 160 to physical addresses, FIG. 1B);     -   metrics module 252-1 that is used for generating and/or         obtaining one or more metrics of a storage device (e.g., any of         storage devices 160-1 to 160-m, FIG. 1B);     -   trigger detection module 254-1 that is used for detecting a         trigger condition (e.g., in accordance with one or more metrics         of a storage device);     -   enabling module 256-1 that is used for enabling an amelioration         process associated with a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 254-1);     -   notification module 258-1 that is used for notifying a host to         which a storage device is operatively coupled of a trigger         condition (e.g., detected by trigger detection module 254-1)         and/or of an absence of the trigger condition;     -   amelioration module 260-1 that is used for performing an         amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile         memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 160, FIG. 1B),         optionally including:         -   detection module 261-1 that is used for detecting an             amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of the             non-volatile memory of the storage device;         -   utilization module 262-1 that is used for reducing             utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage             device; and         -   capacity module 264-1 that is used for reducing declared             capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device;             and     -   optionally, data redundancy module 266-1 that is used for         redundantly encoding data (e.g., to implement a particular RAID         (redundant array of independent disks) level); and     -   optionally, communication module 268-1 that is used for         facilitating communications with other devices, for example via         a storage area network (SAN).

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 246-1 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 246-1 may store additional modules and data structures not described above. In some embodiments, the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 246-1, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 246-1, provide instructions for implementing some of the methods described below. In some embodiments, some or all of these modules may be implemented with specialized hardware circuits that subsume part or all of the module functionality.

Although FIG. 2B-1 shows system management module 151-1 in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 2B-1 is intended more as a functional description of the various features which may be present in system management module 151-1 than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the programs, modules, and data structures shown separately could be combined and some programs, modules, and data structures could be separated.

FIG. 2B-2 is a block diagram illustrating a system management module 151-2, in accordance with some embodiments, e.g., embodiments in which the system management module is located in the host, as shown in FIG. 1B; in some such embodiments the storage system is called a host-managed storage system. System management module 151-2 typically includes one or more processing units (sometimes called CPUs or processors) 152-2 for executing modules, programs and/or instructions stored in memory 246-2 and thereby performing processing operations, memory 246-2 (sometimes called host memory), and one or more communication buses 248-2 for interconnecting these components. The one or more communication buses 248-2 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. System management module 151-2 is coupled to storage system controller 150 by the one or more communication buses 248-2. Memory 246-2 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 246-2 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s) 152-2. Memory 246-2, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 246-2, comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 246-2, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 246-2 stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   system mapping module 250-2 that is used for mapping virtual         logical addresses (e.g., used by computer system 142, FIG. 1B)         to intermediate addresses (e.g., which are mapped by storage         devices 160 to physical addresses, FIG. 1B);     -   metrics module 252-2 that is used for generating and/or         obtaining one or more metrics of a storage device (e.g., any of         storage devices 160-1 to 160-m, FIG. 1B);     -   trigger detection module 254-2 that is used for detecting a         trigger condition (e.g., in accordance with one or more metrics         of a storage device);     -   enabling module 256-2 that is used for enabling an amelioration         process associated with a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 254-2);     -   notification module 258-2 that is used for notifying a host to         which a storage device is operatively coupled of a trigger         condition (e.g., detected by trigger detection module 254-2)         and/or of an absence of the trigger condition;     -   amelioration module 260-2 that is used for performing an         amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile         memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 160, FIG. 1B),         optionally including:         -   detection module 261-2 that is used for detecting an             amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of the             non-volatile memory of the storage device;         -   utilization module 262-2 that is used for reducing             utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage             device; and         -   capacity module 264-2 that is used for reducing declared             capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device;     -   optionally, data redundancy module 266-2 that is used for         redundantly encoding data (e.g., to implement a particular RAID         (redundant array of independent disks) level); and     -   optionally, communication module 268-2 that is used for         facilitating communications with other devices, for example, via         a storage area network (SAN).

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 246-2 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 246-2 may store additional modules and data structures not described above. In some embodiments, the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 246-2, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 246-2, provide instructions for implementing some of the methods described below. In some embodiments, some or all of these modules may be implemented with specialized hardware circuits that subsume part or all of the module functionality.

Although FIG. 2B-2 shows system management module 151-2 in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 2B-2 is intended more as a functional description of the various features which may be present in system management module 151-2 than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the programs, modules, and data structures shown separately could be combined and some programs, modules, and data structures could be separated.

FIG. 2C-1 is a block diagram illustrating a cluster management module 181-1, in accordance with some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1C. Cluster management module 181-1 typically includes one or more processing units (sometimes called CPUs or processors) 182-1 for executing modules, programs and/or instructions stored in memory 276-1 and thereby performing processing operations, memory 276-1, and one or more communication buses 278-1 for interconnecting these components. The one or more communication buses 278-1 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Cluster management module 181-1 is coupled to additional module(s) 185 by the one or more communication buses 278-1. Memory 276-1 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 276-1 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s) 182-1. Memory 276-1, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 276-1, comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 276-1, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 276-1 stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   cluster mapping module 280-1 that is used for mapping virtual         logical addresses (e.g., used by computer system 172, FIG. 1C)         to intermediate addresses (e.g., which are mapped by storage         subsystems 192 to physical addresses, FIG. 1C);     -   metrics module 282-1 that is used for generating and/or         obtaining one or more metrics of a storage device (e.g., any of         the storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k, FIG. 1C);     -   trigger detection module 284-1 that is used for detecting a         trigger condition (e.g., in accordance with one or more metrics         of a storage device);     -   enabling module 286-1 that is used for enabling an amelioration         process associated with a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 284-1);     -   notification module 288-1 that is used for notifying a host to         which a storage device is operatively coupled of a trigger         condition (e.g., detected by trigger detection module 284-1)         and/or of an absence of the trigger condition;     -   amelioration module 290-1 that is used for performing an         amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile         memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 194, FIG. 1C),         optionally including:         -   detection module 291-1 that is used for detecting an             amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of the             non-volatile memory of the storage device;         -   utilization module 292-1 that is used for reducing             utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage             device; and         -   capacity module 294-1 that is used for reducing declared             capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device;     -   optionally, data redundancy module 296-1 that is used for         redundantly encoding data; and     -   optionally, communication module 298-1 that is used for         facilitating communications with other devices, for example, via         a storage area network (SAN).

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 276-1 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 276-1 may store additional modules and data structures not described above. In some embodiments, the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 276-1, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 276-1, provide instructions for implementing some of the methods described below. In some embodiments, some or all of these modules may be implemented with specialized hardware circuits that subsume part or all of the module functionality.

Although FIG. 2C-1 shows cluster management module 181-1 in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 2C-1 is intended more as a functional description of the various features which may be present in cluster management module 181-1 than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the programs, modules, and data structures shown separately could be combined and some programs, modules, and data structures could be separated.

FIG. 2C-2 is a block diagram illustrating a cluster management module 181-2, in accordance with some embodiments, e.g., embodiments in which the cluster management module is located, at least in part, in the host, as shown in FIG. 1C; in some such embodiments the storage system uses host-based cluster management. Cluster management module 181-2 typically includes one or more processing units (sometimes called CPUs or processors) 182-2 for executing modules, programs and/or instructions stored in memory 276-2 and thereby performing processing operations, memory 276-2 (sometimes called host memory), and one or more communication buses 278-2 for interconnecting these components. The one or more communication buses 278-2 optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) that interconnects and controls communications between system components. Cluster management module 181-2 is coupled to cluster controller 180 by the one or more communication buses 278-2. Memory 276-2 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random access solid state memory devices, and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 276-2 optionally includes one or more storage devices remotely located from the CPU(s) 182-2. Memory 276-2, or alternatively the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 276-2, comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 276-2, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 276-2 stores the following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   cluster mapping module 280-2 that is used for mapping virtual         logical addresses (e.g., used by computer system 172, FIG. 1C)         to intermediate addresses (e.g., which are mapped by storage         subsystems 192 to physical addresses, FIG. 1C);     -   metrics module 282-2 that is used for generating and/or         obtaining one or more metrics of a storage device (e.g., any of         the storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k, FIG. 1C);     -   trigger detection module 284-2 that is used for detecting a         trigger condition (e.g., in accordance with one or more metrics         of a storage device);     -   enabling module 286-2 that is used for enabling an amelioration         process associated with a trigger condition (e.g., detected by         trigger detection module 284-2);     -   notification module 288-2 that is used for notifying a host to         which a storage device is operatively coupled of a trigger         condition (e.g., detected by trigger detection module 284-2)         and/or of an absence of the trigger condition;     -   amelioration module 290-2 that is used for performing an         amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile         memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 194, FIG. 1C),         optionally including:         -   detection module 291-2 that is used for detecting an             amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of the             non-volatile memory of the storage device;         -   utilization module 292-2 that is used for reducing             utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage             device; and         -   capacity module 294-2 that is used for reducing declared             capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device;     -   optionally, data redundancy module 296-2 that is used for         redundantly encoding data; and     -   optionally, communication module 298-2 that is used for         facilitating communications with other devices, for example, via         a storage area network (SAN).

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set of instructions for performing a function described above. The above identified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 276-2 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 276-2 may store additional modules and data structures not described above. In some embodiments, the programs, modules, and data structures stored in memory 276-2, or the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 276-2, provide instructions for implementing some of the methods described below. In some embodiments, some or all of these modules may be implemented with specialized hardware circuits that subsume part or all of the module functionality.

Although FIG. 2C-2 shows cluster management module 181-2 in accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 2C-2 is intended more as a functional description of the various features which may be present in cluster management module 181-2 than as a structural schematic of the embodiments described herein. In practice, and as recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the programs, modules, and data structures shown separately could be combined and some programs, modules, and data structures could be separated.

FIG. 2D is a block diagram illustrating amelioration module 230 included in management module 121-1 of FIG. 2A-1 and/or management module 121-2 of FIG. 2A-2, in accordance with some embodiments. As described above with respect to FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, in some embodiments, amelioration module 230 includes utilization module 232 and capacity module 234. In some embodiments, utilization module 232 includes the following programs and/or modules, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   trimming module 235 that is used for trimming from a storage         device at least a portion of previously-written data that is no         longer used by a host (e.g., not live data 332, FIG. 3);     -   deleting module 236 that is used for deleting from a storage         device discardable data that is used by a host; and     -   moving module 237 that is used for moving a portion of data that         is used by a host from a storage device to another storage         device.

In some embodiments, capacity module 234 includes the following programs and/or modules, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   LBA reduction module 238 (sometimes called a logical address         reduction module) that is used for reducing a range of logical         addresses, reducing a count of logical addresses, and/or making         specific logical addresses unavailable to a host; and     -   advertising module 239 that is used for advertising a reduced         declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device or         storage subsystem.

In some embodiments, the amelioration process includes a utilization reduction process (e.g., performed by utilization module 232) and a declared capacity reduction process (e.g., performed by capacity module 234). In some embodiments, the amelioration process has a target reduced declared capacity to be achieved by the amelioration process, and utilizes the target reduced declared capacity to determine a target amount of utilization reduction to be achieved by the amelioration process. In some circumstances, such as when the amelioration process has a target reduced declared capacity to be achieved by the amelioration process, and the amount of a storage device utilized is less than the target reduced declared capacity, the target amount of utilization reduction is zero. In such circumstances, performance of the utilization reduction process, or one or more portions of the utilization reduction process, is unneeded and therefore skipped or forgone. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the amelioration process (e.g., periodically, semi-continuously, irregularly, initially and/or finally) recomputes or re-evaluates a number of parameters, such as the target reduced declared capacity and/or the target amount of utilization reduction, as those parameters may change in value due to the amelioration process and/or normal storage operations (e.g., read, write, erase and trim or unmap operations). In some circumstances, in accordance with the recomputed or re-evaluated parameters, the utilization reduction is re-prioritized, re-scheduled, or aborted. Although FIG. 2D uses the example of amelioration module 230 included in FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, the description of FIG. 2D similarly applies to other amelioration modules (e.g., amelioration module 260-1 of FIG. 2B-1, amelioration module 260-2 of FIG. 2B-2, amelioration module 290-1 of FIG. 2C-1, and/or amelioration module 290-2 of FIG. 2C-2), and for sake of brevity, the details are not repeated here.

The trim operation indicates that specific portions of the LBA space (320, FIG. 3) are converted to unallocated LBA space (340), thereby reducing utilization. The trim operation typically includes invalidating one or more entries of a mapping table (e.g., mapping table 402, FIG. 4) used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of a storage device. As a result of the trim operation, any data that was previously stored using the specific portion of the LBA space is no longer available to the host (e.g., is discarded). The physical pages used to previously store this data may be reused for other purposes. The reuse may be done coincident in time with the trim operation or at a future time (e.g., during garbage collection). As discussed elsewhere, the reused physical pages may be used with a different encoding format or different redundancy mechanism than the encoding format or different redundancy mechanism used by those same physical pages before the reuse. The trim operation is sometimes also referred to as an unmap operation. The trim operation, as used herein, is not necessarily identical to the trim operation of the SATA protocol. The unmap operation, as used herein, is not necessarily identical to the unmap operation of the SCSI protocol.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a logical block address (LBA) space 320 (sometimes called logical address (LA) space), in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, a logical address is the address at which an item (e.g., a file or other data) resides from the perspective of a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A, computer system 142, FIG. 1B, and/or computer system 172, FIG. 1C). In some embodiments, a logical address (e.g., in LBA space 320) differs from a physical address (e.g., in physical space 318) due to the operation of a mapping function or address translator (e.g., a function or module that includes translation table 212-1, FIG. 2A-1, or mapping table 402, FIG. 4). In some embodiments, a logical block address (LBA) is mapped to a physical flash address (e.g., a physical page number (PPN), including a bank, block, and page), as described further with respect to FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, a logical address space includes allocated logical address space (e.g., allocated LBA space 342) and unallocated logical address space (e.g., unallocated LBA space 340). In some embodiments, unallocated logical address space is logical address space at which no data is stored. In some embodiments, unallocated logical address space includes logical address space that has never been written to and/or has been discarded (previously written data may be discarded through a trim or unmap operation, and is sometimes called trimmed logical address space). For example, in FIG. 3, unallocated LBA space 340 includes trimmed LBA space 330. In some embodiments, allocated logical address space is logical address space that was previously-written by a host, the previously-written data including data that is no longer used by a host (e.g., not live data 332) and data that is still in use by the host (e.g., live data 334). In some embodiments, not live data is data in a portion of the logical address space that is marked as free, available or unused in the metadata of a file system. Optionally, a file system may choose to convert not live address space into unallocated address space through a trim or unmap operation.

In FIG. 3, allocated LBA space 342 represents an amount of allocated space, and unallocated LBA space 340 represents an amount of unallocated space. However, neither allocated LBA space 342 nor unallocated LBA space 340 is necessarily a single contiguous region of LBA space 320. Similarly, live data 334 and not live data 332 in FIG. 3 represent amounts (e.g., counts of LBAs) of live data and not live data, respectively. However, neither live data 334 nor not live data 332 is necessarily a single contiguous region of LBA space 320 or allocated LBA space 342, nor do the positions of live data 334 and not live data 332 illustrated in FIG. 3 have any correlation to the logical or physical address values of the live data and not live data. Typically, live data 334 and/or not live data 332 will be present in multiple regions of LBA space 320, and are thus non-contiguous. Optionally, however, a remapping or coalescing process, which can also be called defragmentation, can be performed to consolidate some or all live data 334 into a contiguous region of LBA space 320.

Allocated logical address space (342) is space that is utilized. The utilization reduction modules and processes discussed herein are modules, applications and processes whose purpose is to reduce the size of the allocated logical address space, and thus reduce utilization of non-volatile memory in a storage device or data storage system. Typically, reducing the size of the allocated logical address space requires reducing the amount of live data 334 and/or not live data 332 stored by a storage device, or storage system, thereby converting a portion of the allocated logical address space into unallocated logical address space. In some embodiments, portions of not live data 332 are trimmed, and thereby converted into unallocated logical address space through the use of trim or unmap operations.

In some embodiments, a logical address may be outside of LBA Space (320) and is therefore unavailable. A previously available logical address can be made unavailable by reducing the size of the LBA space (320) such that that address is no longer within LBA space (320) and hence becomes unavailable (e.g. it is an undefined operation or erroneous operation to request a normal storage operation to a logical address that is outside of LBA space (320)). As noted above, LBA Space (320) can be reduced by a command to the storage device, or a host can limit its usage of logical addresses to a reduced range of logical addresses therefore effectively reducing LBA space (320).

In some embodiments, the total number of allocated logical addresses (342) is limited. In such embodiments, specific logical addresses are considered to be unavailable if usage of them would cause the system to exceed the limited total number. For example, if the total number of allocated logical addresses is limited to five and the currently allocated addresses are 1, 3, 19, 45 and 273838 then any specific logical address other than these five (e.g., 6, 15, 137, etc.) would be considered unavailable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a mapping table 402 and physical address space 410, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, mapping table 402 is used to translate a logical block address (LBA) from the perspective of a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A) to a physical address in a physical address space (e.g., physical address space 410) of non-volatile memory in a storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, an LBA is the address of the smallest unit of stored data that is addressable by a host (e.g., 512 B or 4096 B). In some embodiments, LBAs are a sequence of integers organized in numerical order in the logical address space. In some embodiments, LBAs are integers chosen from a logical address space but need not be contiguous. For example, in implementations that utilize a sparse logical address space, the amount of addressable space is governed by a limit on the number of logical addresses that can be allocated, but those logical addresses are distributed over a larger address space than the maximum number of logical addresses that can be allocated (e.g., to a host or a set of hosts or clients).

In some embodiments, mapping table 402 is stored in memory associated with the storage device (e.g., in memory 206-1, as part of translation table 212-1, FIG. 2A-1). In some embodiments, a physical address is a physical page number (PPN), including a bank number, a block number, and a page number. In the example shown in FIG. 4, LBA 0 is mapped to bank 1 (e.g., Bank 420-1), block 3 (e.g., Block 421-3), page 37 (pages not shown in FIG. 4) of physical address space 410. FIG. 4 shows that physical address space 410 includes a plurality of non-volatile memory blocks 421, 422 423, 424. As described above, and as shown in the representation of block 424-p, each non-volatile memory block in the physical address space of a storage device typically includes a plurality of pages 426, where each page is typically an instance of the smallest individually accessible (e.g., readable or writable) portion of a block. Although FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a logical address to physical address mapping, in other embodiments, different mappings may be used. For example, in some embodiments, each of the logical address entries corresponds to multiple (e.g., eight) logical addresses (e.g., 8 LBAs per logical address entry). In some embodiments mapping table 402 need not contain contiguous LBA addresses and may be organized in any manner to facilitate lookup operations, e.g., hash table, binary tree, content addressable memory, and others.

As discussed below with reference to FIG. 5A, a single-level flash memory cell (SLC) stores one bit (“0” or “1”). Thus, the storage density of a SLC memory device is one bit of information per memory cell. A multi-level flash memory cell (MLC), however, can store two or more bits of information per cell by using different ranges within the total voltage range of the memory cell to represent a multi-bit bit-tuple. In turn, the storage density of a MLC memory device is multiple-bits per cell (e.g., two bits per memory cell).

Flash memory devices utilize memory cells to store data as electrical values, such as electrical charges or voltages. Each flash memory cell typically includes a single transistor with a floating gate that is used to store a charge, which modifies the threshold voltage of the transistor (i.e., the voltage needed to turn the transistor on). The magnitude of the charge, and the corresponding threshold voltage, is used to represent one or more data values. In some embodiments, during a read operation, a reading threshold voltage is applied to the control gate of the transistor and the resulting sensed current or voltage is mapped to a data value.

The terms “cell voltage” and “memory cell voltage,” in the context of flash memory cells, typically means the threshold voltage of the memory cell, which is the minimum voltage that needs to be applied to the gate of the memory cell's transistor in order for the transistor to conduct current. Similarly, reading threshold voltages (sometimes also called reading signals, reading voltages, and/or read thresholds) applied to a flash memory cells are gate voltages applied to the gates of the flash memory cells to determine whether the memory cells conduct current at that gate voltage. In some embodiments, when a flash memory cell's transistor conducts current at a given reading threshold voltage, indicating that the cell voltage is less than the reading threshold voltage, the raw data value for that read operation is a “1,” and otherwise the raw data value is a “0.”

FIG. 5A is a simplified, prophetic diagram of voltage distributions 300 a found in a single-level flash memory cell (SLC) over time, in accordance with some embodiments. The voltage distributions 300 a shown in FIG. 5A have been simplified for illustrative purposes. In this example, the SLC's voltage range extends approximately from a voltage, V_(SS), at a source terminal of an NMOS transistor to a voltage, V_(DD), at a drain terminal of the NMOS transistor. As such, voltage distributions 300 a extend between V_(SS) and V_(DD).

Sequential voltage ranges 301 and 302 between source voltage V_(SS) and drain voltage V_(DD) are used to represent corresponding bit values “1” and “0,” respectively. Each voltage range 301, 302 has a respective center voltage V₁ 301 b, V₀ 302 b. As described below, in many circumstances the memory cell current sensed in response to an applied reading threshold voltages is indicative of a memory cell voltage different from the respective center voltage V₁ 301 b or V₀ 302 b corresponding to the respective bit value written into the memory cell. Errors in cell voltage, and/or the cell voltage sensed when reading the memory cell, can occur during write operations, read operations, or due to “drift” of the cell voltage between the time data is written to the memory cell and the time a read operation is performed to read the data stored in the memory cell. For ease of discussion, these effects are collectively described as “cell voltage drift.” Each voltage range 301, 302 also has a respective voltage distribution 301 a, 302 a that may occur as a result of any number of a combination of error-inducing factors, examples of which are identified above.

In some implementations, a reading threshold voltage V_(R) is applied between adjacent center voltages (e.g., applied proximate to the halfway region between adjacent center voltages V₁ 301 b and V₀ 302 b). Optionally, in some implementations, the reading threshold voltage is located between voltage ranges 301 and 302. In some implementations, reading threshold voltage V_(R) is applied in the region proximate to where the voltage distributions 301 a and 302 a overlap, which is not necessarily proximate to the halfway region between adjacent center voltages V₁ 301 b and V₀ 302 b.

In order to increase storage density in flash memory, flash memory has developed from single-level (SLC) cell flash memory to multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory so that two or more bits can be stored by each memory cell. As discussed below with reference to FIG. 5B, a MLC flash memory device is used to store multiple bits by using voltage ranges within the total voltage range of the memory cell to represent different bit-tuples. A MLC flash memory device is typically more error-prone than a SLC flash memory device created using the same manufacturing process because the effective voltage difference between the voltages used to store different data values is smaller for a MLC flash memory device. Moreover, due to any number of a combination of factors, such as electrical fluctuations, defects in the storage medium, operating conditions, device history, and/or write-read circuitry, a typical error includes a stored voltage level in a particular MLC being in a voltage range that is adjacent to the voltage range that would otherwise be representative of the correct storage of a particular bit-tuple. As discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 5B, the impact of such errors can be reduced by gray-coding the data, such that adjacent voltage ranges represent single-bit changes between bit-tuples.

FIG. 5B is a simplified, prophetic diagram of voltage distributions 300 b found in a multi-level flash memory cell (MLC) over time, in accordance with some embodiments. The voltage distributions 300 b shown in FIG. 5B have been simplified for illustrative purposes. The cell voltage of a MLC approximately extends from a voltage, V_(SS), at the source terminal of a NMOS transistor to a voltage, V_(DD), at the drain terminal. As such, voltage distributions 300 b extend between V_(SS) and V_(DD).

Sequential voltage ranges 311, 312, 313, 314 between the source voltage V_(SS) and drain voltages V_(DD) are used to represent corresponding bit-tuples “11,” “01,” “00,” “10,” respectively. Each voltage range 311, 312, 313, 314 has a respective center voltage 311 b, 312 b, 313 b, 314 b. Each voltage range 311, 312, 313, 314 also has a respective voltage distribution 311 a, 312 a, 313 a, 314 a that may occur as a result of any number of a combination of factors, such as electrical fluctuations, defects in the storage medium, operating conditions, device history (e.g., number of program-erase (P/E) cycles), and/or imperfect performance or design of write-read circuitry.

Ideally, during a write operation, the charge on the floating gate of the MLC would be set such that the resultant cell voltage is at the center of one of the ranges 311, 312, 313, 314 in order to write the corresponding bit-tuple to the MLC. Specifically, the resultant cell voltage would be set to one of V₁₁ 311 b, V₀₁ 312 b, V₀₀ 313 b and V₁₀ 314 b in order to write a corresponding one of the bit-tuples “11,” “01,” “00” and “10.” In reality, due to the factors mentioned above, the initial cell voltage may differ from the center voltage for the data written to the MLC.

Reading threshold voltages V_(RA), V_(RB) and V_(RC) are positioned between adjacent center voltages (e.g., positioned at or near the halfway point between adjacent center voltages) and, thus, define threshold voltages between the voltage ranges 311, 312, 313, 314. During a read operation, one of the reading threshold voltages V_(RA), V_(RB) and V_(RC) is applied to determine the cell voltage using a comparison process. However, due to the various factors discussed above, the actual cell voltage, and/or the cell voltage received when reading the MLC, may be different from the respective center voltage V₁₁ 311 b, V₀₁ 312 b, V₀₀ 313 b or V₁₀ 314 b corresponding to the data value written into the cell. For example, the actual cell voltage may be in an altogether different voltage range, strongly indicating that the MLC is storing a different bit-tuple than was written to the MLC. More commonly, the actual cell voltage may be close to one of the read comparison voltages, making it difficult to determine with certainty which of two adjacent bit-tuples is stored by the MLC.

Errors in cell voltage, and/or the cell voltage received when reading the MLC, can occur during write operations, read operations, or due to “drift” of the cell voltage between the time data is written to the MLC and the time a read operation is performed to read the data stored in the MLC. For ease of discussion, sometimes errors in cell voltage, and/or the cell voltage received when reading the MLC, are collectively called “cell voltage drift.”

One way to reduce the impact of a cell voltage drifting from one voltage range to an adjacent voltage range is to gray-code the bit-tuples. Gray-coding the bit-tuples includes constraining the assignment of bit-tuples such that a respective bit-tuple of a particular voltage range is different from a respective bit-tuple of an adjacent voltage range by only one bit. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the corresponding bit-tuples for adjacent ranges 301 and 302 are respectively “11” and “01,” the corresponding bit-tuples for adjacent ranges 302 and 303 are respectively “01” and “00,” and the corresponding bit-tuples for adjacent ranges 303 and 304 are respectively “00” and “10.” Using gray-coding, if the cell voltage drifts close to a read comparison voltage level, the error is typically limited to a single bit within the 2-bit bit-tuple.

Although the description of FIG. 5B uses an example in which q=2 (i.e., 2 bits per cell in a MLC flash memory), those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described herein may be extended to memory cells that have more than four possible states per cell, yielding more than two bits of information per cell. For example, in some embodiments, a triple-level memory cell (TLC) has eight possible states per cell, yielding three bits of information per cell. As another example, in some embodiments, a quad-level memory cell (QLC) has 16 possible states per cell, yielding four bits of information per cell. As another example, in some embodiments, a cell might store only 6 states, yielding approximately 2.5 bits of information per cell, meaning that two cells together would provide 36 possible states, more than sufficient to store 5 bits of information per pair of cells.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart representation of a method 600 of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments. At least in some embodiments, method 600 is performed by a storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A) or one or more components of the storage device (e.g., storage controller 124 and/or storage medium 130, FIG. 1A), wherein the storage device is operatively coupled with a host system (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, method 600 is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a device, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 122-1 of management module 121-1, shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A-1. In some embodiments, method 600 is performed by a storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A, data storage system 140, FIG. 1B, and/or data storage system 170, FIG. 1C) or one or more components of the storage system (e.g., computer system 110 and/or storage device 120, FIG. 1A, storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B, and/or cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C). In some embodiments, some of the operations of method 600 are performed at a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A, computer system 142, FIG. 1B, and/or computer system 172, FIG. 1C) and information is transmitted to a storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A) and/or one or more subsystems of a storage system (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B, and/or cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C). In some embodiments, method 600 is governed, at least in part, by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a subsystem of a storage system, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 152-1 of system management module 151-1, shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B-1 or the one or more processing units (CPUs) 182-1 of cluster management module 181-1, shown in FIGS. 1C and 2C-1. In some embodiments, method 600 is governed, at least in part, by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a host (processors of host not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C). For ease of explanation, the following describes method 600 as performed by a storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A). However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, one or more of the operations described in method 600 are performed by a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A, computer system 142, FIG. 1B, and/or computer system 172, FIG. 1C) and/or one or more subsystems of a storage system distinct from the storage device (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B, and/or cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C).

A storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A), triggers (602) a condition for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the storage device in accordance with one or more metrics of the storage device (e.g., including one or more status metrics corresponding to the storage device's ability to retain data, one or more performance metrics corresponding to performance of the storage device, one or more wear metrics corresponding to wear on the storage device, and/or one or more time metrics). Metrics of the storage device include metrics (e.g., wear metrics such as P/E cycle counts, write operation counts and the like) of the non-volatile storage media (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) of the storage device, but are not necessarily limited to such metrics. For example, some metrics (e.g., some performance metrics, such as latency metrics, metrics that measure how long it takes or how many operations are required to complete a write or erase operation, etc.) of the storage device reflect both storage media performance as well as controller and/or other storage device component performance.

In some embodiments, the metrics of the storage device used to determine the trigger condition include a write amplification metric of the storage device. Another metric of the storage device that is used, in some embodiments, to determine the trigger condition is an over-provisioning metric (e.g., quantity or percentage of total storage capacity that is in excess of the declared capacity of the storage device, and/or quantity or percentage of total storage capacity that is in excess of the declared capacity of the storage device after a projected conversion of a number of memory blocks (or other portions of the storage device) from a current encoding format (e.g., TLC, MLC and/or data redundancy mechanism) to a lower storage density encoding format (e.g., MLC, SLC and/or data redundancy mechanism). For example, in some embodiments, a trigger condition is determined if a projected over-provisioning metric, corresponding to a number of blocks (or other portions) of the storage device removed from service (e.g., that have been or will be removed from service) due to wear or due to failure of those blocks (or other portions) to meet a predefined quality of service metric, falls below a predefined threshold (e.g., a non-zero threshold such as 2 percent or 5 percent or the like), or falls below a threshold determined in accordance with a measured or projected write amplification of the storage device.

Write amplification is a phenomenon where the actual amount of physical data written to a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130 in storage device 120) is a multiple of the logical amount of data written by a host (e.g., computer system 110, sometimes called a host) to the storage medium. As discussed above, when a block of storage medium must be erased before it can be re-written, the garbage collection process to perform these operations results in re-writing data one or more times. This multiplying effect increases the number of writes required over the life of a storage medium, which shortens the time it can reliably operate. The formula to calculate the write amplification of a storage system is given by equation:

$\frac{{{amount}\mspace{14mu}{of}\mspace{14mu}{data}\mspace{14mu}{written}\mspace{14mu}{to}\mspace{14mu} a\mspace{14mu}{storage}\mspace{14mu}{medium}}\;}{{amount}\mspace{14mu}{of}\mspace{14mu}{data}\mspace{14mu}{written}\mspace{14mu}{by}\mspace{14mu} a\mspace{14mu}{host}}$

One of the goals of any flash memory based data storage system architecture is to reduce write amplification as much as possible so that available endurance is used to meet storage medium reliability and warranty specifications. Higher system endurance also results in lower cost as the storage system may need less over-provisioning. By reducing write amplification, the endurance of the storage medium is increased and the overall cost of the storage system is decreased. Generally, garbage collection is performed on erase blocks with the fewest number of valid pages for best performance and best write amplification.

In some embodiments, the trigger condition is detected in accordance with a non-linear and/or linear combination of the one or more metrics. For example, in some embodiments, the trigger condition is detected by comparing a wear metric such as P/E cycle counts to a previously determined value, e.g., a threshold value. In some embodiments, the trigger condition can also be asserted by other means, e.g., by a human operator or scheduled by a human operator. For example, it may be desirable to initiate the amelioration process because of the expected availability or unavailability of resources. For example, it may be desirable to initiate the amelioration process because performance characteristics of the storage device (including reliability) are altered.

In some embodiments, the trigger condition is detected in accordance with historical knowledge of the one or more metrics. For example, historical knowledge can be a running average of one or more metrics. In another example, historical knowledge can be used to determine (e.g., compute) one or more projected values of one or more metrics at a particular time in the future (e.g., an hour, day, week, or month in the future), and the trigger condition can be detected in accordance with the one or more projected values. The latter methodology can be particularly useful for avoiding events that result in loss of data (e.g., due to wear out), or more generally for avoiding events that significantly impact on the quality of service provided by a storage system, and for enabling a storage system to undertake ameliorative measures prior to there being an urgent need to do so. For example, in some embodiments, the trigger condition is detected by comparing a historical wear metric such as P/E cycle counts to a previously determined value to anticipate wear out of a portion of the storage media. Similarly, in some embodiments, the trigger condition is detected by comparing a historical metric, such as the bit error rate (BER), or the rate of change of the metric, BER (of the storage media, or a portion of the storage media), or a projected value (e.g., a projected BER rate at a particular time in the future, as determined based on a current or historical BER and a rate of change of the BER), against a previously determined value to anticipate performance degradation due to increased computation requirements of error correction.

In a storage system with a plurality of storage devices the trigger condition may be dependent on metrics obtained from a plurality of the storage devices. The amelioration process may operate on more than one storage device at a time, either sequentially or in parallel. For example, a storage system may have a fixed maximum rate of capacity reduction independent of how many storage devices are currently being operated on in parallel by the amelioration process (e.g., maximum rate of data movement between the storage devices while reducing utilization). The trigger condition should include considering, separately and in combination, the metrics of the plurality of storage devices when determining the targeted capacity reduction and, due to the fixed maximum rate, the scheduling of the amelioration process.

The storage device notifies (604) a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A, computer system 142, FIG. 1B, computer system 172, FIG. 1C, storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B, and/or cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C) to which the storage device is operatively coupled of the trigger condition for reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, upon receipt of the notification of the trigger condition the host sends an amelioration trigger to initiate the amelioration process (606).

The storage device or a host detects the amelioration trigger and, in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performs an amelioration process (606) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, the amelioration process includes a process to reduce utilization (608), a process to reduce declared capacity (610), and/or a process to advertise (612) a reduced declared capacity. As described above with respect to FIG. 2D, in some embodiments, the amelioration process (606) includes a utilization reduction process (608) (e.g., performed by utilization module 232, FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, utilization module 262, FIG. 2B-1 and 2B-2, or utilization module 292, FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2) and/or a declared capacity reduction process (610) (e.g., performed by capacity module 234, FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, capacity module 264, FIGS. 2B-1 and 2B-2, or capacity module 294, FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2). In some circumstances, such as when the amount of the storage device utilized by the host is less than the reduced declared capacity, performance of the process to reduce utilization (608), or one or more portions of the process to reduce utilization, is skipped or forgone. Although FIG. 6 shows operations 608, 610, and 612 as sequential processes of the amelioration process (606), in some embodiments, these processes may be overlapped, non-sequential, and/or performed in a different order.

In some embodiments, prior to the operations described above in FIG. 6 (e.g., operations 602, 604, and/or 606), method 600 includes reducing (601) over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. As described above, over-provisioning refers to a quantity or percentage of total storage capacity that is in excess of the declared capacity of the storage device. In some embodiments, over-provisioning refers to the difference between the physical capacity of the storage device (e.g., the physical capacity less capacity set aside for management data structures and metadata) for storing user data (e.g., data stored in the storage system on behalf of a host or host system), and the logical capacity presented as available for a host or user. For example, in some embodiments, if a non-volatile memory of a storage device has 12 GB of total storage capacity (e.g., total storage capacity for storing user data) and 10 GB of declared capacity, then the non-volatile memory of the storage device has 2 GB of over-provisioning. Unlike declared capacity, which is the storage capacity available to a host, the extra capacity of over-provisioning is not visible to the host as available storage. Instead, over-provisioning is used to increase endurance of a storage device (e.g., by distributing the total number of writes and erases across a larger population of blocks and/or pages over time), improve performance (e.g., by providing additional buffer space for managing P/E cycles and improving the probability that a write operation will have immediate access to a pre-erased block), and reduce write amplification.

In some embodiments, reducing (601) over-provisioning includes: (1) detecting a first wear condition of non-volatile memory of a storage device of a storage system, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning, and (2) in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning includes marking one or more blocks of the non-volatile memory as unusable. In some embodiments, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning includes converting one or more MLC blocks to SLC, or more generally, changing the physical encoding format of one or more blocks of the non-volatile memory. In some embodiments, reducing over-provisioning is performed by an over-provisioning module of management module 121, system management module 151, or cluster management module 181 (e.g., in memory 206 of FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, in memory 246 of FIGS. 2B-1 and 2B-2, or in memory 276 of FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2, respectively, but not explicitly shown). Furthermore, in some circumstances or in some embodiments, over-provisioning reducing operation 601 is performed multiple times prior to the first time operation 602 is performed. For example, over-provisioning reducing operation 601 may be repeated each of multiple times that a predefined wear condition is detected, until over-provisioning falls to or below a predefined minimum level.

In some embodiments, the first wear condition is detected in accordance with one or more metrics of the storage device (e.g., including one or more status metrics corresponding to the storage device's ability to retain data, one or more performance metrics corresponding to performance of the storage device, one or more wear metrics corresponding to wear on the storage device, and/or one or more time metrics), as described above with respect to operation 602. In some embodiments, the first wear condition is detected in accordance with a determination that the one or more metrics of the storage device satisfy a first criterion and over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device is greater than a predefined threshold (e.g., 2 percent of the declared capacity, at least 100 blocks, or 40 blocks+n % of declared capacity, etc.).

In some embodiments, detecting the trigger condition (as described above with respect to operation 602) comprises detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition. For example, in some embodiments, the trigger condition (or the second wear condition) is detected in accordance with a determination that the one or more metrics of the storage device satisfy a second criterion (e.g., the first criterion used for the first wear condition or another criterion) and over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device is less than or equal to (e.g., not greater than) a predefined threshold (e.g., 2 percent of the declared capacity, at least 100 blocks, or 40 blocks+n % of declared capacity, etc.).

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate a flowchart representation of a method 700 of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method 700 includes detecting (702) an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 120 of FIG. 1A, or any of storage devices 160-1 to 160-m of FIG. 1B, or any of storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k of FIG. 1C) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A; data storage system 140, FIG. 1B; or data storage system 170, FIG. 1C), and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing (704) an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including: altering an encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. The encoding format of data comprises the physical encoding of data in the storage media combined with the logical encoding of data which uses one or more of the redundancy mechanisms as described above. The physical encoding format of a portion of non-volatile memory is a physical encoding format of the memory cells comprising the portion of non-volatile memory, and indicates the number of bits of information that can be stored per memory cell. As described above with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B, examples of physical encoding formats include a single-level flash memory cell (SLC), a multi-level flash memory cell (MLC), a triple-level memory cell (TLC), and a quad-level memory cell (QLC), capable of storing up to one, two, three, and four bits per memory cell, respectively. The physical encoding format can further include other physical encoding formats for a non-integer number of bits of information per memory cell. Altering of the encoding format may involve altering the physical encoding format or the redundancy mechanism(s) or both the physical encoding format and the redundancy mechanism(s). In some embodiments, altering of the encoding format is a multi-step sequence. In a first step of this sequence an indication of the new encoding format is made or recorded. This indication will inform subsequent operations to use the indicated (e.g., lower density) encoding format. In a subsequent step, e.g., garbage collection, data will be recorded with the new encoding format. In some embodiments, reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the storage device includes reducing storage capacity, of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, available to the host. The declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the storage device is sometimes called the advertised capacity, and is typically used by the operating system and/or a file system of the host as the maximum capacity that the host's operating system or file system will attempt to allocate.

In some embodiments, the amelioration trigger is detected (702) by an amelioration module (e.g., amelioration module 230 of FIG. 2A-1, 2A-2 or 2D, 260 of FIG. 2B-1 or 2B-2, or 290 of FIG. 2C-1 or 2C-2), or a component thereof (e.g., detection module 231 of FIG. 2A-1, 2A-2 or 2D, 261 of FIG. 2B-1 or 2B-2, or 291 of FIG. 2C-1 or 2C-2). In some embodiments, detecting the amelioration trigger includes receiving or generating the amelioration trigger. Furthermore, in some embodiments, prior to detecting the amelioration trigger (702), method 700 includes detecting a wear condition and reducing over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, as described above with respect to operation 601 of FIG. 6.

In some embodiments, an amelioration module (e.g., amelioration module 230, FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, amelioration module 260, FIGS. 2B-1 and 2B-2, and/or amelioration module 290, FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2) is used to perform (704) the amelioration process, in accordance with the amelioration trigger, to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, the amelioration module includes a module (e.g., utilization module 232, FIG. 2D) for altering an encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and a capacity module (e.g., capacity module 234) for reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (706) by the storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A, storage device 160, FIG. 1B, or storage device 194, FIG. 1C) or one or more components of the storage device (e.g., storage controller 124, FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, method 700, or at least the detecting operation 702 and/or performing operation 704 of method 700, is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a device, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 122-1 of management module 121-1, shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A-1.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (708) by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device. For example, in some of these embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, method 700, or at least the detecting operation 702 and/or performing operation 704 of method 700, is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a device, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 152-1 of management module 151-1, shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B-1.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (710), at least in part, by the host. In some embodiments, method 700, or at least the detecting operation 702 and/or performing operation 704 of method 700, is governed at least in part by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a host (processors not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C), such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) of management module 121-2 (FIGS. 1A and 2A-2); or management module 151-2 (FIGS. 1B and 2B-2); or management module 181-2 (FIGS. 1C and 2C-2).

In some embodiments, the host (e.g., computer system 110 of FIG. 1A, computer system 142 of FIG. 1B, or computer system 172 of FIG. 1C) includes (712) a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A; data storage system 140, FIG. 1B; data storage system 170, FIG. 1C). In some embodiments, the client is or includes an entity on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.

In some embodiments, the host includes (714) a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some of these embodiments, the storage system controller controls and/or coordinates operations among one or more storage devices. In some of these embodiments, the data storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B) is called a scale-up system.

In some embodiments, the host includes (716) a cluster controller (e.g., cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C). In some of these embodiments, the cluster controller controls and/or coordinates operations among one or more data storage subsystems, as shown for example in FIG. 1C, where each of the data storage subsystems may be implemented as a data storage system having one or more storage devices (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some of these embodiments, the data storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C) is called a scale-out system or a clustered storage system.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (718) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., amelioration module 230, FIG. 2D) alters and/or coordinates the alteration of the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, the one or more parameters for the amelioration process include a level of urgency for the amelioration process, a target reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and/or a target amount of reduction in utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, or any combination or subset thereof. In some embodiments, altering the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process includes altering the encoding format only enough to meet a target amount of declared capacity reduction specified by the one or more parameters. Stated another way, the one or more parameters of the amelioration process indicate or correspond to a target amount of reduction in storage capacity available to the host. For example, as described in greater detail below, the encoding format of a portion of the non-volatile memory is altered from TLC to MLC if a target amount of declared capacity reduction can be met by doing so, rather than altering the encoding format from TLC to SLC. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters for the amelioration process take into account, or enable the amelioration process to take into account, a projected reduction in the declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device that will be needed in a predefined time period (e.g., an hour, a day, a week, or any other predefined period). For example, in some embodiments, the parameters of the amelioration process indicate a specific reduction in declared capacity and a reduction in utilization. A host might use the trim operation to reduce utilization and then direct the storage device to reduce its declared capacity. In accordance with the decreased capacity and utilization, the storage device alters the encoding format of a selected portion of the non-volatile storage media (as noted above altering may itself be a multi-step process). In some embodiments, the amelioration process steps of reducing utilization, reducing declared capacity and altering the encoding format may occur in any order and may be partially or completely overlapping (e.g., performed in parallel). In some embodiments, the amelioration process may change the declared capacity of the storage device prior to the completion of the reduction in utilization, wherein the storage device operates with reduced over-provisioning until the utilization reduction is completed.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (720) the encoding format from a higher-density physical encoding format to a lower-density physical encoding format. For example, the encoding format of selectable portion 131 of storage medium 130 (FIG. 1A) is altered from MLC to SLC (e.g., a higher-density physical encoding format to a lower-density physical encoding format) such that the memory cells comprising selectable portion 131 store fewer bits per cell than under the previous encoding format.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (722) a number of states per memory cell from a higher number of states to a lower number of states. As described above with respect to FIGS. 5A and 5B, states of a memory cell represent sequential voltage ranges within the total voltage range of a memory cell that represent different bit-tuples (e.g., in FIG. 5B, sequential voltage ranges 311, 312, 313, 314 represent corresponding bit-tuples “11,” “01,” “00,” and “10.”). The number of bits of information in a memory cell of a non-volatile memory is a function of the possible states that can be stored per memory cell, which is determined by the physical encoding format of the memory cell. Specifically, the number of bits of information that be stored per cell is equal to log₂ N, where N is the corresponding maximum number of possible states per cell. Therefore, in some embodiments, altering a number of states per memory cell includes altering the number of detectable voltage levels for a memory cell, thereby altering the amount of information stored in a memory cell.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (724) the encoding format from a Triple-Level Cell (TLC) format to a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) format.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (726) the encoding format from a Triple-Level Cell (TLC) format to a Single-Level Cell (SLC) format.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (728) the encoding format from a Multi-Level Cell (MLC) format to a Single-Level Cell (SLC) format.

In some embodiments, performing (704) the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes reducing (730) utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. As described above with respect to FIG. 2D, in some embodiments, the amelioration process (606) includes a utilization reduction process (608) (e.g., performed by utilization module 232, FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, utilization module 262, FIGS. 2B-1 and 2B-2, or utilization module 292, FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2). Examples of ways in which utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage device may be reduced include trimming or unmapping not live data, deleting discardable data (e.g., temporary data files) used by a host, and/or moving data from the storage device to one or more other storage devices.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (732) the encoding format of a memory portion of a plurality of memory portions of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the encoding format of memory cells comprising bank 1 (e.g., Bank 420-1 of the plurality of banks, Banks 420-1 through 420-q), specifically, is altered from MLC to SLC, resulting in the memory cells of bank 1 storing fewer bits per cell than the memory cells of other banks of the non-volatile memory.

In some embodiments, altering (704) the encoding format of at least a portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes altering (734) the encoding format of all client data of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. For example, the encoding format of all memory cells comprising storage medium 130 (FIG. 1A) is altered from MLC to SLC, resulting in those memory cells of storage medium 130 storing one bit of information per cell, rather than two bits. In some embodiments, a storage device may store all client data in a high-density encoding format (e.g., TLC or MLC) but store storage device metadata (e.g., mapping table 402) in a different encoding format (e.g., SLC). The amelioration process may result in all of the storage media associated with the client data being converted to a lower-density encoding format while the storage device metadata remains in its original encoding format. In some embodiments, the retention of the client data is optional. For example, the amelioration process may be performed much faster if the client data is not retained, similar to a SCSI low-level format operation.

In some embodiments, performing the amelioration process (704) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device further includes advertising (736) a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., advertising module 239 of capacity module 234, FIG. 2D) advertises/or coordinates the advertisement of a reduced declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A) or storage subsystem. In some implementations, the storage device, or a corresponding storage controller, cluster controller, management module or data storage system sends a message to the host advertising the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by sending an interrupt or other message to the host.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a query from a host to which the storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the query, reporting the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some such implementations, the host is configured to periodically query the storage system, storage controller, management module, cluster controller or storage device, for example for a system or device health status.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending a response to the command that includes a notification of the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending both a response to the command and a notification that prompts the host to obtain information, including the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, from the storage device or from the data storage system that includes the storage device. In some embodiments, the mechanism used for returning a notification when responding to a command from the host is a SCSI deferred error or deferred error response code.

In some embodiments, after beginning performance of the amelioration process (704) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the method includes detecting an indication (738) to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device; and in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, aborting (740) performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In the context of these embodiments, detecting the indication to abort is herein defined to mean either receiving a signal to abort the reduction in declared capacity (e.g., receiving the signal from a controller of the storage device or a storage system controller of a storage system that includes the storage device) or evaluating one or more metrics of the storage device and based on the evaluation, determining to abort the reduction in declared capacity. For example, during the operation of the amelioration process, normal storage operations will continue to be performed (e.g., read, write, delete, trim, etc.). Normal storage operations include operations like trim that explicitly reduce the storage device utilization, possibly enough to merit aborting the amelioration process. Other storage activity such as garbage collection may also reduce utilization, possibly enough to merit aborting the amelioration process.

In some embodiments the amelioration process (e.g., periodically, semi-continuously, initially, finally, occasionally or irregularly) recomputes or re-evaluates a number of parameters, such as the target reduced declared capacity and/or the target amount of utilization reduction), as those parameters may change in value due to the amelioration process and/or normal storage operations (e.g., read, write, erase and trim or unmap operations). In some circumstances, in accordance with the recomputed or re-evaluated parameters, one or more portions of the amelioration process, such as the utilization reduction process, is re-prioritized, re-scheduled, or aborted.

In some embodiments, the storage device includes (742) one or more flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the storage device comprises a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A), and the storage medium comprises one or more non-volatile storage devices, such as flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) is a single flash memory device, while in other embodiments the storage medium includes a plurality of flash memory devices. For example, in some embodiments, the storage medium includes dozens or hundreds of flash memory devices, organized in parallel memory channels, such as 16, 32 or 64 flash memory devices per memory channel, and 8, 16 or 32 parallel memory channels. In some embodiments, the non-volatile storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) includes NAND-type flash memory or NOR-type flash memory. In other embodiments, the storage medium comprises one or more other types of non-volatile storage devices.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate a flowchart representation of a method 800 of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method 800 includes detecting (802) an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device (e.g., storage device 120 of FIG. 1A, or any of storage devices 160-1 to 160-m of FIG. 1B, or any of storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k of FIG. 1C) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A; data storage system 140, FIG. 1B; or data storage system 170, FIG. 1C), and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing (804) an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including: deleting from the storage device discardable data that is used by a host (e.g., computer system 110 of FIG. 1A, computer system 142 of FIG. 1B, or computer system 172 of FIG. 1C), and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the storage device includes reducing storage capacity, of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, available to the host. The declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the storage device is sometimes called the advertised capacity, and is typically used by the operating system and/or a file system of the host as the maximum capacity that the host's operating system or file system will attempt to allocate.

In some embodiments, the amelioration trigger is detected (802) by an amelioration module (e.g., amelioration module 230 of FIG. 2A-1, 2A-2 or 2D, 260 of FIG. 2B-1 or 2B-2, or 290 of FIG. 2C-1 or 2C-2), or a component thereof (e.g., detection module 231 of FIG. 2A-1, 2A-2 or 2D, 261 of FIG. 2B-1 or 2B-2, or 291 of FIG. 2C-1 or 2C-2). In some embodiments, detecting the amelioration trigger includes receiving or generating the amelioration trigger. Furthermore, in some embodiments, prior to detecting the amelioration trigger (802), method 800 includes detecting a wear condition and reducing over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, as described above with respect to operation 601 of FIG. 6.

In some embodiments, an amelioration module (e.g., amelioration module 230, FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, amelioration module 260, FIGS. 2B-1 and 2B-2, and/or amelioration module 290, FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2) is used to perform (804) the amelioration process, in accordance with the amelioration trigger, to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, the amelioration module includes a utilization module (e.g., specifically, deleting module 236 of utilization module 232, FIG. 2D) for deleting from the storage device discardable data that is used by a host, and a capacity module (e.g., capacity module 234) for reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

In some embodiments, the host (e.g., computer system 110 of FIG. 1A, computer system 142 of FIG. 1B, or computer system 172 of FIG. 1C) includes (806) a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A; data storage system 140, FIG. 1B; data storage system 170, FIG. 1C). In some embodiments, the client is or includes an entity on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.

In some embodiments, the host includes (808) a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some of these embodiments, the storage system controller controls and/or coordinates operations among one or more storage devices. In some of these embodiments, the data storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B) is called a scale-up system.

In some embodiments, the host includes (810) a cluster controller (e.g., cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C). In some of these embodiments, the cluster controller controls and/or coordinates operations among one or more data storage subsystems, as shown for example in FIG. 1C, where each of the data storage subsystems may be implemented as a data storage system having one or more storage devices (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some of these embodiments, the data storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C) is called a scale-out system or a clustered storage system.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (812) by the storage device (e.g., storage device 120, FIG. 1A, storage device 160, FIG. 1B, or storage device 194, FIG. 1C) or one or more components of the storage device (e.g., storage controller 124, FIG. 1A). In some embodiments, method 800, or at least the detecting operation 802 and/or performing operation 804 of method 800, is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a device, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 122-1 of management module 121-1, shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A-1.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (814) by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device. For example, in some of these embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, method 800, or at least the detecting operation 802 and/or performing operation 804 of method 800, is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a device, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 152-1 of management module 151-1, shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B-1.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (816), at least in part, by the host. In some embodiments, method 800, or at least the detecting operation 802 and/or performing operation 804 of method 800, is governed at least in part by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a host (processors not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C), such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) of management module 121-2 (FIGS. 1A and 2A-2); or management module 151-2 (FIGS. 1B and 2B-2); or management module 181-2 (FIGS. 1C and 2C-2).

In some embodiments, deleting (804) discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting (818) discardable data that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., deleting module 236 of utilization module 232, FIG. 2D) deletes and/or coordinates the deletion of, from a storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A), discardable data that is used by the host. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters for the amelioration process include a level of urgency for the amelioration process, a target reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, and/or a target amount of reduction in utilization of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, or any combination or subset thereof. In some embodiments, deleting discardable data (e.g., temporary data) that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process includes deleting only discardable data to meet a target amount of declared capacity reduction specified by the one or more parameters. Stated another way, the one or more parameters of the amelioration process indicate or correspond to a target amount of reduction in storage capacity available to the host. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters for the amelioration process take into account, or enable the amelioration process to take into account, a projected reduction in the declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device that will be needed in a predefined time period (e.g., an hour, a day, a week, or any other predefined time period).

In some embodiments, deleting (804) discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting (820) temporary data. In some embodiments, temporary data is stored in a storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A), and includes, for example, temporary data of an Operating System installed on the host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A), or temporary data generated by one or more applications, system processes, and/or programs used by the host. For example, in the Unix or Linux operating systems, files stored in the directory “/tmp” are known to be discardable if they have not been used within a specified period of time (typically an hour or a day, etc.).

In some embodiments, deleting (804) discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting (822) data that can be rebuilt when needed. Data that can be rebuilt includes, for example, certain indexes, caches, and other file types that are generated with reference to data stored in the memory of a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A) and/or storage device (e.g., storage device 120 of FIG. 1A, or any of storage devices 160-1 to 160-m of FIG. 1B, or any of storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k of FIG. 1C) of a storage system and can be regenerated if needed.

In some embodiments, deleting (804) discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting (824) snapshots of data. Snapshots of data include, for example, back-up files/images (e.g., for recovering data), virtual machine snapshots (e.g., for capturing the state, data, and hardware configuration of a virtual machine), and other types of files used for capturing the state of data stored in the memory of a host (e.g., computer system 110, FIG. 1A) and/or storage device (e.g., storage device 120 of FIG. 1A, or any of storage devices 160-1 to 160-m of FIG. 1B, or any of storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k of FIG. 1C) of a storage system.

In some embodiments, deleting (804) discardable data that is used by the host includes deleting (826) data that is pre-marked by the host as data that is discardable. In some embodiments, such data includes preloaded data that the user did not request, one example of which is factory preloaded data stored in storage device 120 by the manufacturer (e.g., programs, applications, back-up files for restoring the OS, etc.). Another example of preloaded data that the user did not request is data preloaded by a website or online application in anticipation of future requests by a user.

In some embodiments, deleting (804) discardable data that is used by the host includes invalidating (828) one or more logical address entries of a mapping table (e.g., by using a trim operation), where the logical address entries are associated with the discardable data, and the mapping table is used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the storage device. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, deleting discardable data includes invalidating logical address entry LBA 0 of mapping table 402, where LBA 0 is mapped to bank 1 (e.g., Bank 420-1), block 3 (e.g., Block 421-3), page 37 (pages not shown in FIG. 4) of physical address space 410.

In some embodiments, reducing (804) declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device includes making (830) a number of logical addresses, less than or equal to a number of logical addresses corresponding to the invalidated logical address entries, unavailable to the host. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., LBA reduction module 238 of capacity module 234, FIG. 2D) reduces and/or coordinates reduction of logical addresses of the logical block address space (e.g., LBA space 320, FIG. 3). In some embodiments, each of the logical address entries corresponds to multiple (e.g., eight) logical addresses (e.g., 8 LBAs per logical address entry).

In some embodiments, performing the amelioration process (804) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device further includes advertising (832) a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., advertising module 239 of capacity module 234, FIG. 2D) advertises/or coordinates the advertisement of a reduced declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A) or storage subsystem. In some implementations, the storage device, or a corresponding storage controller, cluster controller, management module or data storage system sends a message to the host advertising the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by sending an interrupt or other in-band or out-of-band message to the host.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a query from a host to which the storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the query, reporting the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some such implementations, the host is configured to periodically query the storage system, storage controller, management module, cluster controller or storage device, for example for a system or device health status.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending a response to the command that includes a notification of the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending both a response to the command and a notification that prompts the host to obtain information, including the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, from the storage device or from the data storage system that includes the storage device. In some embodiments, the mechanism used for returning a notification when responding to a command from the host is a SCSI deferred error or deferred error response code.

In some embodiments, after beginning performance of the amelioration process (804) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the method includes detecting an indication (834) to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device; and in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, aborting (836) performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. Detecting the indication to abort is herein defined to mean either receiving a signal to abort the reduction in declared capacity (e.g., receiving the signal from a controller of the storage device or a storage system controller of a storage system that includes the storage device) or evaluating one or more metrics of the storage device and based on the evaluation, determining to abort the reduction in declared capacity. For example, during the operation of the amelioration process, normal storage operations will continue to be performed (e.g., read, write, trim, etc.). Normal storage operations include operations like trim that explicitly reduce the storage device utilization, possibly enough to merit aborting the amelioration process. Other storage activity such as garbage collection may also reduce utilization, possibly enough to merit aborting the amelioration process.

In some embodiments the amelioration process (e.g., periodically, semi-continuously, initially, finally, occasionally or irregularly) recomputes or re-evaluates a number of parameters, such as the target reduced declared capacity and/or the target amount of utilization reduction), as those parameters may change in value due to the amelioration process and/or normal storage operations (e.g., read, write, erase and trim or unmap operations). In some circumstances, in accordance with the recomputed or re-evaluated parameters, one or more portions of the amelioration process, such as the utilization reduction process, is re-prioritized, re-scheduled, or aborted.

In some embodiments, the storage device includes (838) one or more flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the storage device comprises a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A), and the storage medium comprises one or more non-volatile storage devices, such as flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) is a single flash memory device, while in other embodiments the storage medium includes a plurality of flash memory devices. For example, in some embodiments, the storage medium includes dozens or hundreds of flash memory devices, organized in parallel memory channels, such as 16, 32 or 64 flash memory devices per memory channel, and 8, 16 or 32 parallel memory channels. In some embodiments, the non-volatile storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) includes NAND-type flash memory or NOR-type flash memory. In other embodiments, the storage medium comprises one or more other types of non-volatile storage devices.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate a flowchart representation of a method 900 of managing a storage system, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the method 900 includes detecting (902) an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device (e.g., storage device 120 of FIG. 1A, or any of storage devices 160-1 to 160-m of FIG. 1B, or any of storage devices 194-1 to 194-n or 194-j to 194-k of FIG. 1C) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A; data storage system 140, FIG. 1B; or data storage system 170, FIG. 1C), and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing (904) an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data (e.g., live data 334, FIG. 3) that is used by a host (e.g., computer system 110 of FIG. 1A, computer system 142 of FIG. 1B, or computer system 172 of FIG. 1C) from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. In some embodiments, detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of the storage system includes generating the amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the first storage device of the storage system. In some embodiments, reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes reducing storage capacity, of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, available to the host. The declared capacity of non-volatile memory of the first storage device is sometimes called the advertised capacity, and is typically used by the operating system and/or a file system of the host as the maximum capacity that the host's operating system or file system will attempt to allocate.

In some embodiments, the amelioration trigger is detected (902) by an amelioration module (e.g., amelioration module 230 of FIG. 2A-1, 2A-2 or 2D, 260 of FIG. 2B-1 or 2B-2, or 290 of FIG. 2C-1 or 2C-2), or a component thereof (e.g., detection module 231 of FIG. 2A-1, 2A-2 or 2D, 261 of FIG. 2B-1 or 2B-2, or 291 of FIG. 2C-1 or 2C-2). In some embodiments, detecting the amelioration trigger includes receiving or generating the amelioration trigger. Furthermore, in some embodiments, prior to detecting the amelioration trigger (902), method 900 includes detecting a wear condition and reducing over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, as described above with respect to operation 601 of FIG. 6.

In some embodiments, an amelioration module (e.g., amelioration module 230, FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, amelioration module 260, FIGS. 2B-1 and 2B-2, and/or amelioration module 290, FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2) is used to perform (904) the amelioration process, in accordance with the amelioration trigger, to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. In some embodiments, the amelioration module includes a utilization module (e.g., specifically, moving module 237 of utilization module 232, FIG. 2D) for moving a portion of data that is used by a host from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system, and a capacity module (e.g., capacity module 234) for reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

In some embodiments, the host (e.g., computer system 110 of FIG. 1A, computer system 142 of FIG. 1B, or computer system 172 of FIG. 1C) includes (906) a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system (e.g., data storage system 100, FIG. 1A; data storage system 140, FIG. 1B; data storage system 170, FIG. 1C). In some embodiments, the client is or includes an entity on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.

In some embodiments, the host includes (908) a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some of these embodiments, the storage system controller controls and/or coordinates operations among one or more storage devices. In some of these embodiments, the data storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B) is called a scale-up system.

In some embodiments, the host includes (910) a cluster controller (e.g., cluster controller 180, FIG. 1C) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C). In some of these embodiments, the cluster controller controls and/or coordinates operations among one or more data storage subsystems, as shown for example in FIG. 1C, where each of the data storage subsystems may be implemented as a data storage system having one or more storage devices (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some of these embodiments, the data storage system (e.g., data storage system 170, FIG. 1C) is called a scale-out system or a clustered storage system.

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (912), at least in part, by the host. In some embodiments, method 900, or at least the detecting operation 902 and/or performing operation 904 of method 900, is governed at least in part by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a host (processors not shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C), such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) of management module 121-2 (FIGS. 1A and 2A-2); or management module 151-2 (FIGS. 1B and 2B-2); or management module 181-2 (FIGS. 1C and 2C-2).

In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed (914) by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the first storage device. For example, in some of these embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both the detecting and the performing are performed by a storage system controller (e.g., storage system controller 150, FIG. 1B) of the storage system (e.g., data storage system 140, FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, method 900, or at least the detecting operation 902 and/or performing operation 904 of method 900, is governed by instructions that are stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and that are executed by one or more processors of a device, such as the one or more processing units (CPUs) 152-1 of management module 151-1, shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B-1.

In some embodiments, moving (904) the portion of data that is used by the host includes moving (916) the portion of data that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., moving module 237 of utilization module 232, FIG. 2D) moves and/or coordinates the moving of data that is used by the host from a first storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A), or a physical location within the first storage device where the data is stored, to another storage device. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters for the amelioration process include a level of urgency for the amelioration process, a target reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, and/or a target amount of reduction in utilization of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, or any combination or subset thereof. In some embodiments, moving the portion of data that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process includes moving enough data to meet a target amount of declared capacity reduction specified by the one or more parameters. Stated another way, the one or more parameters of the amelioration process indicate or correspond to a target amount of reduction in storage capacity available to the host. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters for the amelioration process take into account, or enable the amelioration process to take into account, a projected reduction in the declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device that will be needed in a predefined time period (e.g., an hour, a day, a week, or any other predefined time period).

In some embodiments, moving (904) the portion of data that is used by the host includes (922): moving data associated with one or more virtual logical addresses, including updating a virtual address mapping module. Referring to FIG. 2B-1, for example, system mapping module 250-1 is an example of a virtual address mapping module that maps virtual logical addresses to intermediate addresses, each of which identifies a storage device and a location within the storage device at which data, corresponding to a virtual logical address, is stored. Similarly, cluster mapping module 280-1, FIG. 2C-1, is an example of a virtual address mapping module that maps virtual logical addresses to intermediate addresses, each of which identifies a storage device and a location within the storage device at which data, corresponding to a virtual logical address, is stored.

In some embodiments, moving the portion of the data includes selecting (918) one or more logical addresses of that data so as to minimize performance degradation. Stated another way, in some embodiments, the method includes selecting which logical address entries to move so as to minimize performance degradation. For example, to achieve a particular amount of declared capacity reduction, in some circumstances there may be multiple candidates, or sets of candidates, of logical addresses for which a mapping in a virtual address mapping module (e.g., system mapping module 250, FIG. 2B-1 or FIG. 2B-2, or cluster mapping module 280, FIG. 2C-1 or FIG. 2C-2) could be altered (e.g., by moving associated data, and subsequently updating the virtual address mapping module) to help accomplish the reduction in declared storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. Further, some of the sets of candidates may be accessed or overwritten less frequently than other sets of candidates. By selecting (918) the one or more logical addresses from among the sets of candidates that are accessed or overwritten the least frequently, the process minimizes performance degradation. In another example, the logical addresses are selected in accordance with a wear-leveling methodology, so as to promote uniform wearing, or to avoid uneven wearing of the non-volatile memory media.

In some embodiments, prior to moving data associated with one or more logical addresses, the one or more logical addresses are selected (920) so as to minimize overhead from garbage collection. While updating the virtual address mapping module may, at least in some circumstances, be accomplished without physically moving data from one location to another within the physical address space of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, in practice the underlying cause of the detected amelioration trigger may dictate the physical movement of some data from the first storage device to another storage device. In accordance with some embodiments, the device or system that does the selecting (920) uses a process or analytical method to minimize the amount of data movement that will result from altering the virtual address mapping module.

In some embodiments, reducing (904) declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming (924) logical addresses associated with the data moved from the first storage device. As a result, the “old copy” of the moved data is no longer accessible.

In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., LBA reduction module 238 of capacity module 234, FIG. 2D) reduces and/or coordinates reduction of logical addresses of the logical block address space (e.g., LBA space 320, FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the logical addresses are those logical addresses associated with the first storage device prior to performing the amelioration process. In some embodiments, each of the logical address entries corresponds to multiple (e.g., eight) logical addresses (e.g., 8 LBAs per logical address entry).

In some embodiments, performing (904) the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes invalidating (926) one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in the logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, performing the amelioration process includes invalidating logical address entry LBA 0 of mapping table 402, where LBA 0 is mapped to bank 1 (e.g., Bank 420-1), block 3 (e.g., Block 421-3), page 37 (pages not shown in FIG. 4) of physical address space 410. Corresponding memory blocks, to which the invalidated data and a number of logical addresses correspond, are therefore prepared for being made unavailable to the host, for deletion, and/or for garbage collection (e.g., valid pages of a block are re-written to a new block, and the old block containing invalid data is erased such that the old block is available for new data to be written). In some embodiments, performing the amelioration process includes setting one or more indicators for one or more physical addresses corresponding to the one or more invalidated logical address entries to indicate that data stored at the one or more physical addresses can be discarded. Alternatively, a record or other data corresponding to one or more of the physical addresses corresponding to the one or more invalidated logical address entries is moved to a list of memory portions that are eligible or ready for deletion.

In some embodiments, performing the amelioration process (904) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes advertising (928) a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. In some embodiments, storage controller 124 (FIG. 1A) or a component thereof (e.g., advertising module 239 of capacity module 234, FIG. 2D) advertises/or coordinates the advertisement of a reduced declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device (e.g., storage medium 130 of storage device 120, FIG. 1A) or storage subsystem. In some implementations, the first storage device, or a corresponding storage controller, cluster controller, management module or data storage system sends a message to the host advertising the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by sending an interrupt or other in-band or out-of-band message to the host.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a query from a host to which the first storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the query, reporting the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. In some such implementations, the host is configured to periodically query the storage system, storage controller, management module, cluster controller or storage device, for example for a system or device health status.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the first storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending a response to the command that includes a notification of the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the first storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending a response to the command that includes a notification of the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.

In some implementations, advertising the reduced declared capacity is accomplished by receiving a command (e.g., a storage read or write command) from a host to which the first storage device is operatively coupled, and in response to receiving the command, sending both a response to the command and a notification that prompts the host to obtain information, including the reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, from the first storage device or from the data storage system that includes the first storage device. In some embodiments, the mechanism used for returning a notification when responding to a command from the host is a SCSI deferred error or deferred error response code.

In some embodiments, after beginning performance of the amelioration process (904) to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the method includes detecting an indication (930) to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; and in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, aborting (932) performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device. Detecting the indication to abort is herein defined to mean either receiving a signal to abort the reduction in declared capacity (e.g., receiving the signal from a controller of the first storage device or a storage system controller of a storage system that includes the first storage device) or evaluating one or more metrics of the first storage device and based on the evaluation, determining to abort the reduction in declared capacity. For example, during the operation of the amelioration process, normal storage operations will continue to be performed (e.g., read, write, delete, trim, etc.). Normal storage operations include operations like trim that explicitly reduce the first storage device utilization, possibly enough to merit aborting the amelioration process. Other storage activity such as garbage collection may also reduce utilization, possibly enough to merit aborting the amelioration process.

In some embodiments the amelioration process (e.g., periodically, semi-continuously, initially, finally, occasionally or irregularly) recomputes or re-evaluates a number of parameters, such as the target reduced declared capacity and/or the target amount of utilization reduction), as those parameters may change in value due to the amelioration process and/or normal storage operations (e.g., read, write, erase and trim or unmap operations). In some circumstances, in accordance with the recomputed or re-evaluated parameters, one or more portions of the amelioration process, such as the utilization reduction process, is re-prioritized, re-scheduled, or aborted.

In some embodiments, the first storage device includes (934) one or more flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the first storage device comprises a storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A), and the storage medium comprises one or more non-volatile storage devices, such as flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) is a single flash memory device, while in other embodiments the storage medium includes a plurality of flash memory devices. For example, in some embodiments, the storage medium includes dozens or hundreds of flash memory devices, organized in parallel memory channels, such as 16, 32 or 64 flash memory devices per memory channel, and 8, 16 or 32 parallel memory channels. In some embodiments, the non-volatile storage medium (e.g., storage medium 130, FIG. 1A) includes NAND-type flash memory or NOR-type flash memory. In other embodiments, the storage medium comprises one or more other types of non-volatile storage devices.

In embodiments with a plurality of storage devices, a storage system may find it advantageous to construct a virtual logical address space (LBA Space 320) out of the logical address spaces, or portions of the logical address spaces, for (or associated with) a plurality of storage devices. The storage system (e.g., Data Storage System 140, Data Storage System 170, etc.) includes a virtual mapping module (e.g., system mapping module 250-2, cluster mapping module 280-1, etc.) that converts received virtual logical addresses into intermediate addresses. In some embodiments, the virtual mapping module may contain an algorithmic function (e.g., CRUSH map of the Ceph storage system). In other embodiments, the virtual mapping module may be a table of intermediate addresses indexed by virtual logical address. In some embodiments (e.g. FIG. 1B) the intermediate address consists of one or more references to specific storage devices (160-x) and one or more logical addresses of the one or more referenced storage devices. In some embodiments (e.g., FIG. 1C), the intermediate address consists of a reference to one or more storage subsystems (192-x) and one or more locators for data within the one or more storage subsystems. A locator is understood by a storage subsystem to reference one or more logical addresses of one or more storage devices (194-x) of that storage subsystem. For example, a storage subsystem could use a file system to organize the storage devices (194-1, 194-2, . . . , etc.) in which case the locator would be a file reference (e.g., file name) or reference to a portion of a file. The usage of the virtual mapping module is advantageous because it allows the storage system flexibility in the location of the data associated with the virtual logical address space. In particular, data may be moved between the plurality of storage devices (or even to different locations within a single device) without changing the virtual logical address by altering the contents of the virtual mapping table.

Semiconductor memory devices include volatile memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) or static random access memory (“SRAM”) devices, non-volatile memory devices, such as resistive random access memory (“ReRAM”), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (“EEPROM”), flash memory (which can also be considered a subset of EEPROM), ferroelectric random access memory (“FRAM”), and magnetoresistive random access memory (“MRAM”), and other semiconductor elements capable of storing information. Each type of memory device may have different configurations. For example, flash memory devices may be configured in a NAND or a NOR configuration.

The semiconductor memory elements located within and/or over a substrate may be arranged in two or three dimensions, such as a two dimensional memory structure or a three dimensional memory structure.

The term “three-dimensional memory device” (or 3D memory device) is herein defined to mean a memory device having multiple memory layers or multiple levels (e.g., sometimes called multiple memory device levels) of memory elements, including any of the following: a memory device having a monolithic or non-monolithic 3D memory array; or two or more 2D and/or 3D memory devices, packaged together to form a stacked-chip memory device.

One of skill in the art will recognize that this invention is not limited to the two dimensional and three dimensional structures described but cover all relevant memory structures within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as understood by one of skill in the art.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first storage device could be termed a second storage device, and, similarly, a second storage device could be termed a first storage device, without changing the meaning of the description, so long as all occurrences of the “first storage device” are renamed consistently and all occurrences of the “second storage device” are renamed consistently. The first storage device and the second storage device are both storage devices, but they are not the same storage device.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims. As used in the description of the embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined [that a stated condition precedent is true]” or “if [a stated condition precedent is true]” or “when [a stated condition precedent is true]” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting” or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles of operation and practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing a storage system having a plurality of storage devices, the method comprising: detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of the storage system, wherein declared capacity is storage capacity available to a host; in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data that is used by the host from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system; and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning; and in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger comprises detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the host includes a client on behalf of which data is stored in the storage system.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the host includes a cluster controller of the storage system.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger, performing the amelioration process, or both detecting the amelioration trigger and performing the amelioration process are performed by the host.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger, performing the amelioration process, or both detecting the amelioration trigger and performing the amelioration process are performed by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the first storage device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the portion of data that is used by the host includes moving the portion of data that is used by the host in accordance with one or more parameters for the amelioration process.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the portion of data that is used by the host includes: moving data associated with one or more virtual logical addresses, including updating a virtual address mapping module.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the portion of the data includes selecting one or more logical addresses of that data so as to minimize performance degradation.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the portion of the data further includes selecting one or more logical addresses of that data so as to minimize overhead from garbage collection.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming logical addresses associated with the data moved from the first storage device.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes advertising a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after beginning performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, detecting an indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; and in response to detecting the indication to abort the reduction in declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, aborting performance of the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.
 16. A storage system, comprising: a storage medium; one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the storage system to perform operations comprising: detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of the storage system, wherein declared capacity is storage capacity available to a host; in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data that is used by the host from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system; and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning, and in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 17. The storage system of claim 16, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger comprises detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.
 18. The storage system of claim 16, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device.
 19. The storage system of claim 18, wherein reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming logical addresses associated with the data moved from the first storage device.
 20. The storage system of claim 16, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes advertising a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 21. The storage system of claim 16, wherein the first storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.
 22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a storage system, the one or more programs including instructions for: detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of the storage system, wherein declared capacity is storage capacity available to a host; in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data that is used by the host from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system; and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning; and in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger comprises detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.
 24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device.
 25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming logical addresses associated with the data moved from the first storage device.
 26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes advertising a reduced declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the first storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.
 28. A storage system, comprising: one or more storage devices; and a host to which the one or more storage devices are operatively coupled, the host including: one or more processors; and host memory storing one or more programs, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the host to perform operations comprising: detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of the storage system, wherein declared capacity is storage capacity available to the host; in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data that is used by the host from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system; and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning; and in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 29. The storage system of claim 28, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger comprises detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.
 30. The storage system of claim 28, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device.
 31. The storage system of claim 30, wherein reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming logical addresses associated with the data moved from the first storage device.
 32. The storage system of claim 28, wherein the first storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices.
 33. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more programs configured for execution by one or more processors of a host system, the one or more programs including instructions for: detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a first storage device of a storage system, the first storage device coupled to the host system, wherein declared capacity is storage capacity available to the host system; in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, the performing including: moving a portion of data that is used by the host system from the first storage device to another storage device of the storage system; and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device; prior to detecting the amelioration trigger, detecting a first wear condition of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device, wherein a total storage capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes declared capacity and over-provisioning; and in response to detecting the first wear condition, performing a remedial action that reduces over-provisioning of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device without reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device.
 34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein detecting the amelioration trigger comprises detecting a second wear condition distinct from the first wear condition.
 35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein performing the amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device further includes: invalidating one or more logical address entries, associated with the portion of data, of a mapping table, the mapping table used to translate logical addresses in a logical address space to physical addresses in a physical address space of the first storage device.
 36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the first storage device includes trimming logical addresses associated with the data moved from the first storage device.
 37. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the first storage device comprises one or more flash memory devices. 